Sinn Fein Week in Review-23 May 2002 Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - JayDooling@IrishAires.org Sinn Fein The Week in Review 18-23 May 2002 Sinn Fein election success The 17 May general election saw Sinn Fein's representation increase to 5 TDs, and rise to make the party the 4th largest in the 26 counties. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said result was a `major endorsement' of the party's handling of the peace process, vision of Irish unity and commitment to equality. Speaking after the election of the first of Sinn Fein's new TDs, Sean Crowe in Dublin South West, he said `We see this as an endorsement for our peace process, for our vision of Irish unity and for equality now and, when all the votes are counted up in this election, equality will still be needed. We will still need a public health service. We will still need the housing crisis to be dealt with. We will still need to resolve all of the problems which beset people despite the wealth of the Celtic Tiger and the peace process and the surge for Irish unity will still need to be advanced.' He said that the vote for Sinn Fein was a republican vote and added that there was a different opposition going into this Dail and that he hoped SF could be part of a principled opposition. Sean Crowe topped the Dublin West poll with 7,466 votes and was elected on the first count. Mr Crowe said his election was a `massive endorsement for Sinn Féin'. Gerry Adams welcomed the election of the second Sinn Féin TD to be elected in Dublin since Countess Markiewicz. Later, Sinn Fein North Kerry candidate, Martin Ferris, was elected after also topping the poll. Celebrating the victory, Mr Ferris was joined by Sinn Fein MP and northern Assembly Education Minister, Martin McGuinness MP. Mr McGuinness said it was `an absolutely fabulous day' for the party. `Our vote has gone up in every constituency so we are absolutely delighted,' he said. Sinn Fein also retained the Cavan-Monaghan seat, where Caoimhghin O Caolain was re-elected on the first count, after he also topped the poll. Sinn Fein candidate Aengus O Snodaigh was elected in Dublin South Central, and in Louth, Sinn Fein's Arthur Morgan also gained a seat. A sixth seat was only narrowly missed by Sinn Fein's Nicky Kehoe, who came within 70 votes of getting elected in Dublin Central. Gerry Adams congratulated Bertie Ahern on his electoral successes, but added `I think all of the issues which faced people before the election will still be there when we wake up this morning. When all the votes are counted up and all the TDs are elected, all of those crucial social and economic injustices will still need to be rectified' he said. +++++++++ Adams - begining of a re-alignment of Irish politics Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP speaking on 22 May in advance of a meeting on 24 May of the party's Officer Board and newly elected Sinn Féin TDs said: `We could be seeing the beginning of a re-alignment or at least a redefining of Irish politics. So the big question is not just about who will form the government. It is also about who will form the opposition to that government and what will be the basis of that opposition.' Mr. Adams said: `There is an understandable focus on which parties will form the next government. The next week will see debate, speculation and much tactical manoeuvring as the Taoiseach goes through his options. `Whatever the composition of that government one thing is for certain it will be a government which is about continuing the centre right strategy of the last government on economic and social matters. It is also for certain that it will be a Fianna Fáil led government. It is also arguable, despite the PDs verbal gymnastics, that the people voted for the return of the outgoing government. But the wider implications of the elections are not so clear-cut. `We could be seeing the beginning of a re-alignment or at least a redefining of Irish politics. So the big question is not just about who will form the government. It is also about who will form the opposition to that government and what will be the basis of that opposition. `There is a huge challenge for those parties or individual TDs who have an inclusive and progressive view of Irish society to answer that question. `Sinn Féin did well in the election. Our TDs will play their role in trying to build an alternative to the vested interests that have benefited most from the prosperity of recent years. There is also a need to defend the gains, which have been made by sections of ordinary people who in fact were the creators of the wealth of the Celtic Tiger. `Sinn Féin's only interest in increasing our political strength is to utilise that strength to bring about equality, to end poverty, and factor equity and justice into the rights of citizens in their entitlements to decent jobs, a public health service, education and housing. `We campaigned on these issues as well as for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the objective of Irish unity. But we have no monopoly on any of these positions. They are shared by members of all the other parties, including some who will form the government. `But if progress is to be made those of us who share this vision have to learn to coalesce, to map out broad programmes of work, and to provide principled opposition. This is vital given the likelihood that the incoming government may be about selling off public services, imposing further privatisation on our health services, and reinforcing and deepening the gap between rich and poor. `The Sinn Féin Officer Board will be meeting tomorrow with our newly elected TDs to commence the task of delivering on our mandate. In the period ahead we will be meeting with all the other parties in the D·il. We will also be opening up consultations with all of those groups and organisations that campaign on equality issues. `As the third richest state in the European Union there is a big responsibility to deliver to those sections of our society, which are most disadvantaged and deprived. Left to its own devices the new government will continue with its old agenda. That is not an agenda for equality. +++++++++++ Five Sinn Féin TDs meet to set agenda for `constructive opposition' Call for change in Dáil Standing Orders and co-operation with other parties The five newly elected Sinn Féin TDs -- Seán Crowe, Martin Ferris, Arthur Morgan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Aengus Ó Snodaigh -- met on 23 May with the party's Officer Board, including Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP, and MPs Pat Doherty and Michelle Gildernew. Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD recorded the TD's `appreciation to those citizens who turned out in such increased numbers to elect Sinn Féin TDs', to whom they owed Sinn Fein's `renewed and strengthened mandate'. They were, he said `determined to provide the best and most effective representation to all the people of our constituencies'. He said the meeting had emphasised the all-Ireland nature of Sinn Féin's political project, `as highlighted by the presence of three of our four MPs from the Six Counties. Advancing the peace process and the cause of Irish unity and sovereignty will be a priority for us in the new Dáil'. They looked forward to working with other `to create a new political dynamic on this island' he said. The election result would most likely see another Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats Coalition government, he said.'While the electorate saw no alternative government on offer, they did make clear their dissent from those aspects of government policy which have created gross inequality in our society. This dissent was expressed in the election of such a large number of TDs from smaller parties and of independents. There is an onus on both the incoming government and the opposition to act on their mandate from the electorate' he added. He said Sinn Féin would be advancing their `equality agenda' in the new Dáil. `We will be campaigning inside and outside the Dáil chamber for a renewed health service and an end to the two-tier system, for housing, childcare, rural regeneration and the implementation of the people's decision on the Treaty of Nice' he said, adding `We are willing to work with others of all parties to advance this agenda.' He said the Sinn Fein TDs would also `vigorously oppose any government programme of cuts to public services, privatisation or the clawing back of the advances made by working people in the pact decade'. He further called for existing Dáil Standing Orders, which currently restrict smaller parties to fully represent their electorate, to be changed. Current standing order are restrictive in terms of speaking time, private members' business, introducing legislation and questioning ministers in relation to smaller parties. `This is totally undemocratic and must not be allowed to continue' he said. `In our meeting with Fianna Fáil, we will be urging that they, as the largest party, take the lead in having Standing Orders amended. With a renewed mandate, Sinn Féin is determined that the rights of our electorate will be fully vindicated'. In the event that Standing Orders are not changed, he said it would be necessary for Sinn Féin, the Greens and independents to co-operate in the formation of a technical group. `This must be composed of a majority of those deputies not elected as part of a party of seven TDs or more. In the coming days we will be conducting meetings with parties and individual TDs to this end. I have been appointed to head our negotiating team' he added. `There is also a need for co-operation among the broad left in the new Dáil, including the Labour Party, the Green Party, Sinn Féin and like-minded progressive independent deputies. In wide policy areas we have much in common. Sinn Féin, the Greens and some of the independents took a leading role in the campaign against the Treaty of Nice. The decision of the electorate in rejecting Nice must be respected and we will strongly oppose any re-run of the referendum' he said. He said the meeting had also discussed the possibility of nominating a candidate or candidates for the Seanad. This would be further considered by the Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle (national executive body) on Saturday. He concluded `Today we have set the agenda for Sinn Féin's role in constructive opposition in the Oireachtas and as a campaigning party throughout Ireland. We look forward to the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.' +++++++++++ Human Rights Commission criticised over plastic bullets Sinn Féin Human Rights Spokesperson Pat McNamee MLA has criticised the decision by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) not to monitor the ongoing use of plastic bullets as part of their research into the weapon. Speaking on 20 May, Mr McNamee said, `Sinn Féin has consistently demanded a ban on plastic bullets and have made our position abundantly clear to the HRC. I welcome the fact that the Commission is engaging in research on this lethal weapon but am amazed that they have chosen to ignore their continued use.' He added, `The place to find the real evidence about plastic bullets, and those who use them, is on the streets of North and East Belfast, where they are being discharged, and that is where the HRC should be examining their use.' ++++++++++++ Sinn Féin open to inclusive dialogue to resolve conflict Sinn Féin Deputy Chief Whip, Conor Murphy MLA, has said that Sinn Féin supports dialogue with the objective of resolving conflict in interface areas. Speaking on 20 May, Mr Murphy said: `Sinn Féin absolutely support all dialogue that has the objective of resolving interface tensions. This dialogue needs to genuine and inclusive. He added that they were, however, `perplexed' at the call from loyalist residents on Sinn Féin to call off attacks `when clearly attacks are being orchestrated by the UVF'. `Video evidence, the 9 blast devices, the pipe bombs, the hundreds of ball bearing attacks and nightly attacks all provide ample evidence that the Short Strand community is living under siege' he said. He added that there had been `good contact' between the two communities in the past that has been `very positive in reducing tension'. He said Sinn Féin would continue to work towards `re-establishing such contact that can facilitate direct and inclusive dialogue and lead to the reduction of the problems at these interface areas.' +++++++++++ Call to end the 11-plus and academic selection Speaking at the launch of a Sinn Féin information leaflet on the Department of Education Household Survey on 22 May, party Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin said a `high price' was being paid for maintaining a system academic selection at 11. `It has produced a two-tier education system and resulted in one of the widest gaps in the world between high and low achievers.' He said. He said that although the current system had `many successes' and schools did `a magnificent job in spite of great odds' he said there was `a long tail of underachievement.' `We need a quality education system for all our children. The current system tells 65% of our 11 year olds every year that they are second best. 19% of our pupils leave school with little or no formal qualification and 24% of adults are functionally illiterate' he said. He called for an end to academic selection and for schools where children could be `educated together' and developed `at their own pace'. Education spokesperson Gerry McHugh MLA called for: * All-ability schools: where all children are educated together at similar schools, regardless of academic ability; * Local Primary and Post-primary schools to form voluntary partnerships to ease the transition from one to the other. * Learning Neighbourhoods: Local schools (Primary and post-primary) working closely with the community they serve - parents, community groups, local businesses and third level (FHE, University) institutions. * Parental choice: Parents and children can opt for controlled, maintained, integrated, Irish medium, etc. * Targeting resources: Partnerships must be supported by funding with a special focus on Early Years education and Targeting Social Need. * A broad curriculum: All children to study a common curriculum including a balance of academic, technical and vocational elements, learning skills, personal and social development. +++++++++++ * Circulated by Sinn Fein MPs. Telephone 020 7219 8162. email: fisherj@parliament.uk ------- Jay Dooling (JayDooling@IrishAires.org) Irish Aires - 90.1FM KPFT in Houston http://IrishAires.org/ ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-05.25.02-00:54:09-3451