|
 |
Recent Editions |
|
4 March, 2004 |
|
Other News
Governments still indulging unionist intransigence 
At last year's Ard Fheis the debate on the Peace Process centred on delegates' frustration at the lack of a pro-active approach on the part of the Dublin Government; their outrage at the suspension of the institutions by the British Government and its wilful failure to live up to its obligations under the Agreement; dismay at the demand for sanctions against Sinn Féin being made by unionists; and anger about the lack of demilitarisation. Photo: Mitchel McLaughlin 
Addressing the Ard Fheis on one of the key issues of the Peace Process, Sinn Féin's spokesperson on policing, Gerry Kelly, MLA for North Belfast, said that the desperately needed new beginning to policing in the Six Counties could only be achieved if outstanding issues on the matter were urgently addressed. Photo: Gerry Kelly An alternative globalisation is possible Dublin TD and International Affairs spokesperson for Sinn Féin Aengus Ó Snodaigh opened the International motions debate. This year, they dealt with globalisation and solidarity; the oppression suffered by Tibet's inhabitants under Chinese occupation; the war against and the occupation of Iraq and the situation of the prisoners in US's Army base of Guantanamo Bay; opposition to the construction of the Apartheid Wall on Palestinian land and the continuous violence suffered by its people on the hands of the Israeli occupiers; support for Bretons and Catalans, and Basques in their struggle for self-determination; denunciation of the situation suffered by trade unionists in Colombia at the hands of corporations like Coca-Cola and the Colombian Government; and opposition to the boycott against Cuba and support for the release of the Miami 5. 
Once again the voices of the Basques, Palestinians and South Africans were present at Sinn Féin's Ard Fheis to talk about solidarity, empathy and freedom. Pernando Barrena and Esther Agirre travelled from a very troubled Basque Country, as representatives of the banned political organisation Batasuna. Photo: Speakers from South Africa and the Basque country 
This Ard Fheis reflected the growing concern of the party with agricultural and rural development issues, and delivered a strong message and growing awareness that, as Bairbre de Brún phrased it, "the wellbeing, indeed the very survival of Irish agriculture depends on developing the industry on an all-Ireland basis". Photo: Martin Ferris Delegates sick of health problems One or two motions in the health debate may have proved contentious last weekend, but the overall tone from all the delegates was one of unconcealed anger at the problems in the health sector both North and South of the border. Spokesperson for health in the 26 Counties, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD opened the debate, and lashed into shocking health record held by the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats Government. Local government gets a lashing 
Corruption and the absence of any real power were the two issues that dominated the debate on Local Government on Friday night. With Sinn Féin on the verge of fighting local elections in the South, the debate proved to be one of the more passionate of the weekend. Constant reference was made to the growth the party is going to experience in the local government sector come June, and delegates expressed a strong desire to see change come about on councils throughout the island, when that happens. Photo: Arthur Morgan 
Housing was one of the more emotive issues debated on Saturday. This topic was very popular among many of the younger delegates, who all know first-hand about the housing crisis throughout this island. But it was also addressed by several senior figures, all eager to voice their anger at the problems associated with the issue. Photo: Mary Lou McDonald Education Minster failing special needs children 
Dublin TD Seán Crowe kicked off the debate on education last Friday, and came down hard on the Dublin Government over the issue of special needs education. Speaking in favour of a motion slamming the unacceptably slow processing of the claims by schools for special needs and resource teacher funding, Crowe said "the sad reality is that this Government is not implementing the legislation it has already enacted. Photo: Seán Crowe Equality Commission not working Equality and Human Rights continue to be the cornerstones of Sinn Féin policy and of republican ideology as a whole. Towards that end, delegates spoke on a wide range of related issues, including the lack of provision for children with special needs - particularly those in rural or deprived areas, the rights of women, racism, and the rights of asylum seekers. Engaging the Irish people in defining the New Ireland 
Appropriately enough, the 2004 Ard Fheis opened with resolutions relating to the All-Ireland Agenda, which Martina Anderson, the party's All-Ireland Co-ordinator, introduced as "providing a framework through which we can engage the people of Ireland in defining the New Ireland they want. Photo: Pat Doherty Vibrant debate on cannabis laws 
The Ard Fheis debate on justice, drugs and community covered a vast range of issues, including legal reform, corruption, and drug and alcohol abuse. Sinn Féin again called for the British and Dublin Governments to honour their commitments to the Good Friday Agreement and enact fundamental changes to the criminal justice system. Photo: Caitríona Ruane 
"This Ard Fheis deplores the seventh Budget of Inequality introduced by Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy for 2004." The message from this year's Ard Fheis couldn't have been clearer. When Charlie McCreevy introduced his seventh budget in early December of last year, Sinn Féin did not mince words. It was "a budget of inequity which does nothing to narrow the gap between the wealth and poverty,'" said TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin at the time. Photo: Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin No acceptable level of poverty 
Sinn Féin cannot build an Ireland of equals without eradicating social exclusion and poverty. Towards that end, this year's Ard Fheis reaffirmed its commitment to the elimination of poverty in all its forms. In its discussion paper, Eliminating Poverty - a 21st Century Goal, Sinn Féin noted that one in four adults and one in three children are living in poverty in Irish society, and while energy companies continue to make huge profits, over 200,000 Irish households suffer from fuel poverty. An alternative vision for Europe 
Sinn Féin has an alternative, radical vision for Europe; a vision that corresponds to the party's agenda for change in Ireland. Addressing the Ard Fheis during the EU and Neutrality debate on Friday evening, EU parliamentary candidate Bairbre de Brún set out the party's policy on the European Union. Photo: Bairbre de Brún 
During the debate on the party's organisation, constitution and rules, the thorny issue of the positive discrimination in the election of women to the Ard Chomhairle and other positions in the party was raised once again. The party's current policy, that 50% of the Ard Chomhairle must be made up of women members, was up for debate. Photo: Carol Mary Fraser Sellafield and incinerators rejected 
The Ard Fheis passed a wide range of important resolutions on protection of our environment and on waste management. Resolutions also reflected an increasing concern at government neglect of alternative sources of energy, and the abject failure of the Dublin Government to even attempt the introduction of policies to enable Ireland to comply with our Kyoto commitments to reduce CO2 emissions. Photo: Barry McElduff Huge turnout for 16th Anniversary Vols Burn/Moley Commemoration 
A huge turnout of more than 1,200 republicans gathered at Creggan on Sunday last to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the death of IRA Volunteers Brendan Moley (30) from Newry Road, Crossmaglen, and Brendan Burns (30) from Dorsey. Bairbre de Brún, Six-County European Parliamentary candidate for Sinn Féin, addressed the large crowd at the spot where the two young men were so tragically lost. 
Cristín McCauley, wife of Martin McCauley, one of the three Irishmen currently awaiting a verdict in Colombia on charged of training FARC guerrillas, addressed a packed RDS hall during the international session. Cristín spoke of the complete lack of evidence against the men and of her family's anger at their ordeal at the hands of British Intelligence and the Colombian authorities, saying "nobody can give us back the last three years". Photo: Cristín McCauley on the right of the photo 
Tina Tully from Cavan delivered a message to the Ard Fheis on Behalf of the eight republican prisoners being held in Castlerea Prison. They sent solidarity greetings to our comrades in Sinn Féin and to fellow POWs around the world. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all those candidates and their election teams in last November's Assembly election, it was a tremendous result which consolidated Sinn Féin's position as the largest nationalist party in the Six Counties. Tragic death of Tyrone GAA captain GAA fans across the country, but particularly in Tyrone, were in shock on Tuesday as news emerged of the sudden death at his family home of Tyrone Senior Football captain Cormac McAnallen, one of the finest sportsmen in Ireland. A member of the Eglish club, Cormac had won All-Ireland honours at Minor and Under 21 levels and last year was part of Tyrone's All-Ireland winning team. He was an All-Star and a former Sigerson Cup winner. 
Charges against PSNI dramatically dropped - Seven PSNI officers walked free from a Belfast court after charges of perverting the course of justice and causing death by dangerous driving were dramatically dropped. Raymond Boyle (21) died in May 2001 when the stolen car in which he was travelling as a passenger was rammed by a PSNI vehicle. Photo: Nuala O'Loan Martin must go: Sinn Féin TDs tackle government's shameful health record 
- BY CLAIRE PRENDIVILLE - Tuesday marked yet another night of Private Members' Business in the Dáil chamber. One side fiercely attacked the other's policies and in response the accused staunchly defended their role, with both sides presenting arguments and well-rounded speeches drafted by their trojan behind-the-scenes workers. The topic this week was health, or, to be more precise, the current crisis of the health services which has been a very widely-debated topic in recent months since the heavily-criticised Hanly Report was published late last year. Photo: Micheál Martin Doherty is Director of Elections for EU campaign Sinn Féin Vice President and West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty was announced on Wednesday as the party's Director of Elections for the upcoming elections to the European Parliament. Doherty said that his priority was "to see an all-Ireland team of Sinn Féin MEPs returned to the European Parliament where we will be a strong voice for sovereignty, neutrality and equality". 
World renowned artist Robert Ballagh shows his support for the St Patrick's Day Carnival Committee by signing their petition calling on Belfast City Council to fund a concert at Belfast City Hall on 17 March. Tierna Cunningham of the Carnival Committee had no trouble persuading Ballagh to sign on the dotted line. Photo: Robert Ballagh and Tierna Cunningham Support from Friends in Canada 
Bairbre de Brún accepts a cheque on behalf of Sinn Féin for C$25,000 from Friends of Sinn Féin Cananda. Also pictured are n the photo are Patrick Doyle (Board Mamber), Patrick Totten (Board Member) and Alen McConnell (President). Dublin lacks commitment to Irish language Bairbre de Brún was critical of the Dublin's Government's lack of support and commitment to promoting Irish as a working language within the EU. At present there are 11 working languages within the EU, with Irish excluded. It would be a relatively straightforward matter to have Irish included as a working language of the EU, said de Brún. |
|
©Copyright 2012 An Phoblacht Privacy Policy |