We need to 'green' opinion

Gerry Adams and Meath by-election candidate Cllr. Joe Reilly at the Leinster Cúige AGM in Dublin last Saturday

Gerry Adams addressed a well-attended Leinster Sinn Féin Cúige AGM last Saturday in Dublin. He left them with the inspiration that, "if we have in our heads that Joe Reilly, the best candidate, will win the Meath by-election, then he will win it. It can be done.

"It would indeed be the best answer to Ahern and his government, after all their talk of criminality and bank robbery."

The coming Meath by-election, the new Sinn Féin Constitution and the party's Green Paper on Irish Unity, which is to be launched on 22 February, were the main matters on the agenda of the Leinster Cuige.

Jacqui Russell, Cúige chair, welcomed so many members and spoke strongly of how "we are not Louth republicans, or Wexford republicans, but republicans who happen to live in Louth, Wexford, or wherever." Daithi Forde, Leinster organiser, reviewed the year and the huge gains made in so many areas in Leinster, where the vote has increased threefold, and our elected reps have grown from 11 to 31.

Gerry Adams drew the meeting and discussion which followed his talk, to a close, with an address to the Leinster membership. He began by thanking them. "Too often we take each other for granted. People are undervalued, and we undervalue ourselves. All of us should be proud of what we are, and what we are about."

And he talked then of the poor gender balance in Sinn Fein. "I look at this hall, and see a male dominated crowd. This has to change. It means that men have to step aside." He went on. "There are 340,000 people on this island who voted Sinn Féin — the Leinster area should have a membership of 5,000 at least. This is our struggle; it is all about engaging with groups around you, discussing republican politics with other people, including the people of no property, across this island, who want change now. We need to 'green' opinion, to advance towards a new Republic."

The meeting elected an officer board of Jacqui Russell (chair) Pearse McGeough (vice chair) John Nelson (secretary) John Lynch and Colm Kinsella (treasurers), Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (PRO), Peadar Tobin (education) Marie Gavaghan (culture) David Gahan (All-Ireland co-ordinator) and Kathleen Funchion (equality).