26 April 2001 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

Cowen pressed on Leinster House rights

Sinn Féin assembly members Pat Doherty and Barry McElduff, in a meeting with the Dublin government's Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen, called for elected representatives from the Six Counties to be allowed speaking and voting rights in Leinster House debates.

``Irish nationally minded people throughout the Six Counties look forward to a situation where their democratically mandated representatives can attend, address debates in and vote in Leinster House,'' said Doherty.

``Tyrone is as Irish as Tipperary, Derry is as Irish as Kerry and Antrim is as Irish as Offaly, Brian Cowen's own county. The people of the North reasonably expect to secure the participation of their elected representatives in a truly national parliament'', argued McElduff.

He added that he was pleased that a constitutional sub-committee is actively considering the Sinn Féin proposal in Leinster House and that ``real progress will be made on the matter''.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland