Features

Voter registration Shambles reflects government priorities

Sinn Féin National Director of Elections Pat Doherty spoke this week to ARAN FOLEY about the urgent need to get Sinn Féin supporters onto the electoral register in the 26 Counties and about the party's approach to forthcoming elections there.

Photo: Pat Doherty

OPINION - Take risks, seize opportunities to make strategic advances from the front room to the frontline

There's an old fashioned saying, 'sometimes it's hard to see the wood for the trees'. It aptly applies to the current intensive negotiations that dominate this phase of the peace process.

Photo: The position the Ard Chomhairle adopted on the St Andrews proposals creates a new negotiations opportunity from which to advance national, democratic objectives

The Mary Nelis Column

The Secretary of State Peter Hain and the head of the Civil Service Nigel Hamilton were before the Courts last week to hear a Judge accuse them of improper political purpose. The Secretary of State was accused of trying to hide the truth about the controversial appointment as victims commissioner, of the widow of an RUC man, Bertha Mc Dougall, at a salary of some £50, 000.

Truth recovery Courage and maturity needed in facing up to the past

Whether or not the British state ever acknowledges its primary role in the conflict, it does not absolve us as Irish republicans from our own responsibilities. I am not British. I am an Irish republican. I believe we have a qualitatively different moral value system which demands that we must show courage and maturity in facing up to our past.

Photo: Republicans must show the same commitment, dedication and tenacity as was evident in trying to locate the bodies of those secretly buried by the IRA

Conference Activists discuss finance policy

Sinn Féin activists from across the country gathered in Dublin last weekend to discuss a draft policy document on public finance policy. The document entitled 'Sharing the Wealth' is the second module of Sinn Féin rights-based economics policy. It follows ratification by the 2006 Ard Fheis of the first module of that three part policy which dealt with enterprise and job creation. Like module one 'A Strong Economy for an Ireland of Equals', 'Sharing the Wealth' focuses on achievable, immediate, short-term and medium-term transitional goals that will advance towards the society and economy that Sinn Féin is seeking to build.

Photo: Dara O'Hagan, Shannonbrooke Murphy, Robbie Smyth and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD at the Sinn Féin economic policy conference last Saturday

Review - Danny Morrison is the editor of a book of reflections on the 1981 Hunger Strike

The depth of the lasting impact made by the 1981 Hunger Strike is evident in this fine collection of reflections from 49 contributors compiled, edited and introduced by Danny Morrison. Writers, artists and activists write pieces short and long, including essays, memoirs and poetry, some from '81 itself, most written especially for the book.

Cúlchaint

Ní raibh leid aige an chéad uair a chuala sé an máistir ag luadh "bean sráide" agus an psycho ag caitheamh anuas ar na déagóirí agus "iad ag rith thart le sciortaí gearr cosúil le mná sráide Dúngarbhán".

The Matt Treacy Column

Dublin did not win an All Ireland (other than Junior camogie) this year but we do have the European superbantamweight boxing champion in Bernard Dunne from Neilstown, Clondalkin. Oh yes, I can already hear the smart boys down the back making snide remarks about the Dubs and boxing.

Nua-impiriúlachas na bréagphoblachta

Tá sé soiléir ar feadh ar a laghad fiche bliain go raibh sé ar intinn ag an lucht cumhachta sa Bhréagphoblacht (na 26 Chontae) dul i dtreo mar thacadóirí an nua-impiriúlachais.

Remembering the Past

Bloody Sunday 1920 - On Sunday, 21 November 1920, the IRA carried out one of its most successful counter intelligence operations with the execution of British spies in Dublin.

Media View

According to the Sunday Independent, this weekend will see Fianna Fáil ministers finally "tackle the stamp duty issue". The government, apparently, is "left with no choice" after a "Sunday Independent telephone poll showed 73% of respondents want some adjustment of stamp duty in the budget next month."

Fifth Column

An Phoblacht's famous weekly satirical column.

Photo: Kevin Myers

Letter to the Taoiseach

I must say that it was churlish of me in the extreme, last week, not to mention the Centenarian Bounty of €2,540 which is awarded to Irish people who have reached the age of 100 years.

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