An Phoblacht, Irish emphasised in debate on party development

David Cullinane spoke in favour of motion 122

BY ROBBIE SMYTH

Motion 139 from the Ulster Cúige, calling on the Ard Chomhairle to establish an information technology unit within the party, was just one of a series of complicated and at times hotly contested motions in the Ard Fheis debate on party development, constitution and rules.
For Cumann Thomais Aghas of West Kerry, the priority was a full-time worker in the party’s Culture Department. The cumann chairperson said that “all party members should be involved in learning or improving their Irish”, and that we should see more of the Sinn Féin leadership using Irish when on TV or radio.

“Buy it, sell it and read it”

Aengus Ó Snodaigh spoke in support of Motion 136, which called for “all Cúigí, Comhairlí Ceantair and Cumainn to use every opportunity to promote the weekly sales of An Phoblacht”.
Ó Snodaigh said it was “a disgrace that some cumainn don’t sell An Phoblacht”, which should be “mandatory reading”. “Buy it, sell it and read it” was Ó Snodaigh’s message. Ard Chomhairle member Mícheál Mac Donncha also spoke in favour of Motion 136. He said that in some counties, not a single An Phoblacht is sold.
Editor Seán Mac Brádaigh commended the uninterrupted publication of An Phoblacht for 37 years and described the paper as “more important than ever”. Opposing Motion 121, which called for the publication of a series of booklets or pamphlets on party policy, Mac Brádaigh said it was “reinventing the wheel” and that the membership need to “buy, read and promote” An Phoblacht.
Dublin City Councillor Robbie Sargent spoke in support of Motion 122, calling for the party to conduct a comprehensive review of the role of the Sinn Féin councillor. Sargent said that Sinn Féin representatives are second to none but need more training and resources. Waterford Councillor David Cullinane also spoke in favour of 122, saying that “councillors need support, guidance and resources to ensure that we continue to set high standards”.
Speaking against Motion 116, which called for Sinn Féin to rule out coalition with Fianna Fáil, Cavan-Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said that he “fully” agreed with the sentiments of the motion but felt that such a decision should be left up to the party membership after the elections in a specially-convened Ard Fheis. Ó Caoláin urged delegates to “get out, work hard and increase the Sinn Féin team in Leinster House”.

Strengthening Party Structures

Paul Maskey, an Assembly candidate for West Belfast and brother of the session chair Alex Maskey MLA, spoke in favour of Motion 135 requiring cumainn to elect an equality officer. Paul Maskey said it was essential to remove barriers to women’s participation in Sinn Féin at local level and that this was a good first step.
Motion 119 got a lot of speakers to the podium. It said that outgoing cúige officers should not be eligible for re-election to the officer board unless they themselves had been elected as cúige delegates by a cumann or comhairle ceantair.
Councillor Brian Stanley from Laois said that it was a small change that “ensures cúige officer boards have the full confidence of the local organisation”. Pádraig Malone from Limerick described it as “consistent with internal party democracy”. Outgoing Sinn Féin General Secretary Mitchel McLaughlin MLA and party Vice President Pat Doherty MP spoke against the motion, with Doherty asking that it instead be referred to the constitutional committee.
Motions 113, 117, 120, 122, 123, 124, 126, 128, 129, 131 and 134 to 142 were carried, while Motions 114, 115, 116, 118, 119, 121, 125, 127 and 132 were lost. Motions 130, 133 and 138 were withdrawn.