Leadership in a time of crisis

THE election of Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty as TD for Donegal South-West and the massive rally in Dublin on Saturday, November 28th, show in the clearest terms that people have rejected the Fianna Fáil/Green Party Government, its four-year plan and its proposed austerity Budget.
They have also rejected IMF interference in Ireland.
The Government now has no mandate for the damaging policies it is seeking to inflict on the Irish people. It should suspend the Budget and call a general election now.
The Donegal South-West by-election result was an endorsement of Sinn Féin’s argument that there is a better way.
It was a vote for a fair economic policy based on tax reform, ending waste and stimulating the economy to create jobs.
It was a rejection of the ‘Consensus for Cuts’ amongst all the Establishment parties – Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.
It was also a vote for the democratic goal of a united Ireland which growing numbers of people know makes sense politically, economically and socially.
The Fianna Fáil-led Government has shown a total lack of leadership in its handling of the economic and financial crisis. It has abdicated its responsibilities, surrendered authority to the IMF and EU and struck a truly terrible ‘bail-out’ deal to save the banks while inflicting real pain on ordinary people.
The Green Party’s call for a general election in the New Year – after the Budget – was a shameful ‘cut and run’ exercise which seeks to deny the people an immediate general election while helping Fianna Fáil impose savage Budget cuts and put the state in the hands of the IMF.
Ireland now needs new politics and real leadership and a better way forward. That is what Sinn Féin offers.
This is the backdrop to the decision of Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams to seek the nomination for the Louth constituency in the general election.
The people of Donegal South-West have spoken loud and clear. They have made the choice for a better way. The people throughout the rest of the 26 Counties must now be given the chance to have their say.
As An Phoblacht goes to print yet again in turbulent times for this island’s future, we are reminded that December is also the 30th anniversary of the ending of the 1980 Hunger Strike by men in the H-Blocks and women in Armagh Jail. The double-dealing and bad faith of the British Government in relation to that strike resulted in the subsequent 1981 Hunger Strike led by Bobby Sands.
It is worth recalling one of the most famous quotes of Bobby Sands:
“Everyone, republican or otherwise, has their own particular part to play. No part is too great or too small; no one is too old or too young to do something.”
The men in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh and the women in Armagh Jail showed leadership.
Republicans, in resisting the Orange state and British repression – while the Southern political establishment stood idly by – have shown leadership.
In building and sustaining the Peace Process and opening up a peaceful route to Irish unity and independence, republicans have shown leadership.
Let every Sinn Féin activist and supporter now show leadership.
Let us help empower people.
Let’s take back our country