11 February 1999 Edition
Adams launches local government campaign
``Sinn Fein is a Republican Labour party, with radical practical policies on issues which affect ordinary people. We are seeking to build a partnership with the community which will improve the quality of life of all our people, but especially the most disadvantaged in our society''.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams was speaking in Cork at the start of a hectic two day visit to that historic city, as well as Tralee and Listowel in Kerry, and Tallaght in Dublin. The Sinn Fein leader was kicking off the party's local government and Euro election campaigns in those areas. He told journalists, ``we will be standing more candidates, in more areas than ever before. The last general election results, particularly in these areas, show that Sinn Fein is well placed to make major advances''.
While in Cork Adams spoke to a packed meeting of over 600 students in UCC where he received a warm welcome. Answering questions on the difficulties in the peace process Adams dismissed suggestions that the current dispute within the process was as a result of differences between the UUP and Sinn Fein.
``This is not the case. This dispute is about whether the Good Friday Agreement is going to be implemented or whether the UUP is going to succeed, through exercising a veto, in parking or reviewing, in other words renegotiating the agreement.'' He warned that ``too much has been achieved to allow the reactionaries to wreck the process. Sinn Fein is totally committed to the Good Friday Agreement. There is no other way forward''.
On Monday evening in Tralee and Listowel Adams spoke at public meetings which each attracted almost 400 people. He also held private meetings with Kerry representatives of the IFA and ICMSA. From the farmers' representatives he heard at first hand of the many difficulties faced by farmers at this time, particularly the small farmers. He pledged that Sinn Fein would do all it can to highlight and alleviate the plight of farmers. Martin Ferris, who attended the meetings, said, ``the fodder and milk quota crises, the current negotiations over CAP, and the deterioration of services in rural areas are all issues of great concern. We need a co-ordinated integrated approach to agriculture and rural development which takes its lead from those directly affected''.
Tuesday morning saw Adams and Ferris visit the Jeanie Johnston famine ship project, which involves young people from East Belfast. This £4 million project involves the reconstruction of a famine ship which sailed across the Atlantic taking thousands of Irish people to Canada and the United States. The young people are learning the skills necessary to build a wooden sailing ship.
Just before leaving for Dublin there was a civic reception for Gerry Adams hosted by Tralee Urban District Council. Speaking to the media the Sinn Fein President took the opportunity to call for a referendum on the vital issue of neutrality.
In Dublin Sean Crowe and Mark Daly met Gerry Adams and introduced him to the Tallaght Hospital Action Committee. Adams was shown around the hospital and then briefed by the Committee. Following the meeting he said that he intended speaking urgently to the Taoiseach.
At a later press conference the Sinn Fein leader introduced Sean Crowe and Mark Daly to the media as Sinn Fein's local government candidates for the Tallaght area.
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams was speaking in Cork at the start of a hectic two day visit to that historic city, as well as Tralee and Listowel in Kerry, and Tallaght in Dublin. The Sinn Fein leader was kicking off the party's local government and Euro election campaigns in those areas. He told journalists, ``we will be standing more candidates, in more areas than ever before. The last general election results, particularly in these areas, show that Sinn Fein is well placed to make major advances''.
While in Cork Adams spoke to a packed meeting of over 600 students in UCC where he received a warm welcome. Answering questions on the difficulties in the peace process Adams dismissed suggestions that the current dispute within the process was as a result of differences between the UUP and Sinn Fein.
``This is not the case. This dispute is about whether the Good Friday Agreement is going to be implemented or whether the UUP is going to succeed, through exercising a veto, in parking or reviewing, in other words renegotiating the agreement.'' He warned that ``too much has been achieved to allow the reactionaries to wreck the process. Sinn Fein is totally committed to the Good Friday Agreement. There is no other way forward''.
On Monday evening in Tralee and Listowel Adams spoke at public meetings which each attracted almost 400 people. He also held private meetings with Kerry representatives of the IFA and ICMSA. From the farmers' representatives he heard at first hand of the many difficulties faced by farmers at this time, particularly the small farmers. He pledged that Sinn Fein would do all it can to highlight and alleviate the plight of farmers. Martin Ferris, who attended the meetings, said, ``the fodder and milk quota crises, the current negotiations over CAP, and the deterioration of services in rural areas are all issues of great concern. We need a co-ordinated integrated approach to agriculture and rural development which takes its lead from those directly affected''.
Tuesday morning saw Adams and Ferris visit the Jeanie Johnston famine ship project, which involves young people from East Belfast. This £4 million project involves the reconstruction of a famine ship which sailed across the Atlantic taking thousands of Irish people to Canada and the United States. The young people are learning the skills necessary to build a wooden sailing ship.
Just before leaving for Dublin there was a civic reception for Gerry Adams hosted by Tralee Urban District Council. Speaking to the media the Sinn Fein President took the opportunity to call for a referendum on the vital issue of neutrality.
In Dublin Sean Crowe and Mark Daly met Gerry Adams and introduced him to the Tallaght Hospital Action Committee. Adams was shown around the hospital and then briefed by the Committee. Following the meeting he said that he intended speaking urgently to the Taoiseach.
At a later press conference the Sinn Fein leader introduced Sean Crowe and Mark Daly to the media as Sinn Fein's local government candidates for the Tallaght area.