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The EU election campaign across Ireland and the local election campaign across the 26 Counties begins in earnest this week. The campaign takes place in unprecedented circumstances as the country plunges deeper into the greatest economic crisis in decades. That crisis has reached into most homes in Ireland with soaring unemployment, reduced wages, increased taxes, cuts in health and education and other social services.

Bairbre de Brún MEP pays tribute to spirit of republican youth

'When Bobby was knocking on doors in Twinbrook and agitating and organising on behalf of people, he was creating the template for the Sinn Féin activists of today'

DELIVERING the annual Bobby Sands Memorial Lecture at Cumann na Meirleach in Belfast, 'Countess Markievicz and the 100th anniversary of Na Fianna Éireann', Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún dedicated her speech to republican youth.

Photo: 'When Bobby was knocking on doors in Twinbrook and agitating and organising on behalf of people, he was creating the template for the Sinn Féin activists of today'

THE ELECTIONS: Ella O'Dwyer hears Brian Tumilty, Sinn Féin National Director of Elections, appeal to republicans:

IN VIEW of the heightening election mode with party workers out on the hustings, I wasn't surprised last week to find Sinn Féin headquarters practically evacuated, all but for one or two people beavering away at the outback of the building. One of these was Sinn Féin National Director of Elections Brian Tumilty, who I found bent over a desk, glued to a computer screen. Brian Tumilty is a seasoned election campaigner. He took up his role 12 months ago.

Photo: PLAN OF ACTION: Brian Tumilty in Sinn Féin Head Office

International May Day: Sinn Féin launches plan to save and create jobs

MAY DAY saw Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald MEP launch the party's 10-point plan for supporting workers through the current recession. Adams and McDonald were joined by Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, who served on the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU) National Executive and is currently a board member of InterTrade Ireland.

Gerry Adams visits Galway, Sligo and Mayo

SINN FÉIN President Gerry Adams was in east Galway, Sligo and Mayo last week where he met local people and launched the campaigns of Sinn Féin local election candidates in the western counties. As he completed his two-day tour, Adams said that the current economic crisis is directly attributable to government policy. He said the scale of the recession as revealed in the latest quarterly economic report by the ESRI and Live Register figures from the Central Statistics Office underlined the Government's failure in addressing the crisis. He said a change in political direction is needed.

Photo: Gerry Adams addressing the meeting in Ballinasloe, County Galway

Social partnership talks collapse

SOCIAL partnership talks in the 26 Counties aimed at reaching agreement on an economic rescue plan have ended in failure. ICTU General Secretary expressed his frustration at the Government's attitude in media interviews after a meeting if the ICTU Executive Council on Tuesday afternoon. Talking to the Government, the trade union leader said, is like "playing handball against a haystack".

Photo: ICTU chief David Begg and SIPTU’s Jack O’Connor

Renewed call for public investigation as Visteon workers win deal

On Sunday 3 March Visteon workers occupying their west Belfast plant voted to end their 36-day sit-in protest over Visteon UK and Ford Motor company's reneging on their contractual obligations in redundancy payments and pensions. The Unite union said it had agreed to an improved redundancy offer from Visteon UK worth 10 times the amount originally offered. Sinn Féin hosted an Adjournment debate in the Assembly the following day. Below is an abridged version of Gerry Adams's speech.

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