Fair play for the nurses

A Chara,

It is hard to believe that the government can be so uncaringly stupid as to allow the health and welfare of the nation to be endangered rather than pay the nurses a wage commensurate with the service they give. Cries to the effect that such a concession would lead to a mass of carry-on claims from workers, who have wage relativity with the nurses are hogwash. It is not unknown for the unions to agree to certain claims being without precedent. And it is our belief that most workers would forego such relativity rights if that was the only thing stopping concession to the nurses.

This is not only a matter of concern for nurses but also of great concern to those of us who might be in need of their services when the strike is in progress.

Remember that although the nurses' unions have agreed to provide emergency services, they will only be just that. Would it be a terribly sick joke to refer to such a service as a skeleton service? Health Minister Cowen's claim to have stand-by services ready to replace the nurses if they do strike is less than reassuring as we don't much fancy being carted off to hospital in an army lorry and being resuscitated by somebody who has just come in from the rifle range.

Let the government give as much consideration to the right of the people of this nation not to have their health and life endangered as they have for that of Flood Tribunal witness Mr Murphy Snr, who is not even living in their jurisdiction. Ain't he lucky.


John Montgomery,


Chairperson and PRO,


Ballyfermot Community Association,

Dublin/Antrim Phoblacht drive

A Chara,

Following the successful by-election campaign in Antrim Town, Sinn Féin is set to organise a major An Phoblacht sales drive throughout South Antrim as a means of building the party structures throughout the constituency.

The weekly sale of An Phoblacht is vitally important for our party organisation. It is a vital means of communication between the party and the Sinn Féin voter.

From the point of view of the party, it is a means by which the Sinn Féin leadership can keep the voters in touch and provide a political analysis of ongoing developments in the peace process. This can mainly be drawn from the editorial and the weekly political analysis.

As a Sinn Féin voter, you can keep up to date with all the political activities of the party, not only at leadership level, but throughout the country, as local councillors provide representation on various social issues.

Apart from the content, another value in the distribution of the paper is the contact with local activists via the person selling the paper. It is a means by which first-hand opinions and information can be exchanged about local issues in the community.

So if you are a Sinn Féin voter residing in South Antrim and wish to obtain An Phoblacht on a weekly basis, we will endeavour to have the paper delivered to you every weekend.

Please contact the An Phoblacht offices listed elsewhere in this issue or your most convenient Sinn Féin office.
Sinn Féin Women's Forum

National Women's Conference 1999

Women's priorities in the New Millennium

Saturday 13 November

Regency Airport Hotel, Dublin

Keynote address: Gerry Adams


>Aine Gribben,


Antrim Town.

Remember 1981

A Chara,

I fully support the call from both Barry McElduff and Gerry McGeough for areas to establish 1981 hunger-strike committees and believe republicans should fully get involved.

In addition to establishing local committees and discussion groups, a mobilisation throughout the 32 Counties should begin. The 1798 commemorations and various exhibitions throughout 1998 were very successful in highlighting the events of 1798.

I believe that a similar effort should be made to commemorate, and in doing so educate a new generation about the events of 1981.

I suggest that a number of things could take place to pay tribute to both the hunger-strikers and the blanket men and women who sacrificed and endured so much.

That an exhibition be compiled and exhibited throughout the 32 Counties;

That An Phoblacht could obtain interviews with some of the people directly involved and also publish some of the pages from that time;

For all areas to hold local events and commemorations throughout 2000/2001;

For all republicans to mobilise for a 20th anniversary rally in Belfast in 2001.

The events of 1981 are as historic as those of 1798 and 1916 and should be as fittingly remembered.


M. McGrogan,


Wicklow.