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PEOPLE power rocks. If you thought that ordinary voters didn't matter, the events of the last week proved tsunami-like that governments can sink under a tidal wave of public anger and disgust at their short-termist budget decisions. Pickets at Leinster House, TDs clinics, ministerial photo calls, an unceasing stream of callers to radio chat shows, and some high level lobbying unravelled the first budget of Finance minister Brian Lenihan who just ten days ago proclaimed smugly that he was "protecting those who are most vulnerable in our country".

Policing challenges must be met head-on

FOLLOWING the historic decision by the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in January 2007 to critically engage with the policing structures in the Six Counties, MLAs Alex Maskey, Martina Anderson and Daithí McKay took up their seats on the Policing Board just over a year ago. Speaking to An Phoblacht's EMMA CLANCY this week, ALEX MASKEY said that there has been both progress achieved and serious challenges encountered in the effort to transform policing through this engagement.

Photo: McKay, Maskey and Anderson: Key role of the Policing Board to monitor the service and hold it to account

McGuinness, Robinson meet Cowen

THE North's joint First Ministers, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson of the DUP, held separate meetings in Dublin with Taoiseach Brian Cowen on Friday 17 October in ongoing efforts to address the political crisis which has affected the political institutions.

Photo: Cowen and McGuinness: There is an onus on the Taoiseach to become involved

Adams meets Campbell on Irish Language Act

A SINN FÉIN delegation, including party president Gerry Adams MP MLA, and Francie Brolly MLA, Niall Ó Donnghaile and Rosaleen McCorley met on Tuesday, 21 October, with Culture Minister Gregory Campbell to discuss future planning and development of the Irish language, including the introduction of an Acht na Gaeilge to protect and promote the rights of Irish speakers.

Photo: Gerry Adams

International: Iraq and Afghanistan troops parade on 2 November

SINN FÉIN plans to hold a peaceful protest during the 'homecoming' parade for British soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan in Belfast City centre on 2 November. Speaking to An Phoblacht this week, Sinn Féin MLA Paul Maskey said: "These parades, being held in British towns and now in the North of Ireland, are an attempt by the British Government to bolster public support for its increasingly unpopular occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq."

Photo: BELFAST: Against the Gulf War, then and now

Important step forward for community safety

AN important step forward in the fight against anti-social behaviour and in support of safer neighbourhoods was taken in the North's Assembly on Monday when a motion proposed by West Belfast MP and MLA Gerry Adams calling for inter-departmental, multi-disciplinary community safety was passed following a lengthy debate on Monday.

Photo: ADAMS: Commended community initiatives, including Greater Shankill Alternatives

Government attacks on education must end - Doherty

SENATOR Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin's Education Spokesperson addressed a Union of Students in Ireland (USI) demonstration outside Leinster House on Wednesday, held to protest at proposals by the Education Minister Batt O' Keeffe to reintroduce third level tuition fees.

Photo: Pearse Doherty

Income levy a regressive tax - Morgan

SINN FÉIN Economic Spokesperson Arthur Morgan slammed the controversial income levy contained in Brian Lenihan's Budget as a regressive tax and has called on the government to increase the levy threshold to the average industrial wage and for it to be applied only to income earned above the €38,000 figure.

Photo: Arthur Morgan

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