Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
14 – 21 October 2016

British government can’t be trusted to represent North in negotiations – Martin McGuinness MLA
Joint First Minister Martin McGuinness has said that the British government cannot be trusted to represent the best interests of the people of the north of Ireland in Brexit negotiations.
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr McGuinness said; “Key areas of concern were identified in the joint letter from Arlene Foster and myself and the question is whether the British government is taking those seriously and the answer is I don’t think so.”
Mr McGuinness continued, “I don’t trust this British government to negotiate on our behalf. They don’t have the best interests of the people of the North at heart. And despite what James Brokenshire may say, he will not be my representative at those negotiations. That is the responsibility of elected representatives here. I represent the 56 per cent of people who voted to remain in the EU. Our democratic wishes need to be listened to and respected.”

Taoiseach must address British Secretary of State’s claims on immigration controls – Gerry Adams TD
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has said that the Taoiseach must address recent claims by the British Secretary of State James Brokenshire that the British government’s focus, in conjunction with the Irish government, is to move the British State’s frontline immigration controls to Irish ports and airports.
Mr Adams called the proposal “clearly not feasible” and called on the Taoiseach to “comment and make a statement on the matter”.
Mr Adams stated that, “The fact is the DUP, and for that matter the British government, do not accept the democratic will of the people in the north. Sinn Féin does and other parties there do as well. Of course it would be better if the Executive was united, and if the DUP agreed with the rest of us, and more importantly, with the electorate, but they don’t and the Taoiseach has to deal with that reality, instead of trying to blame Sinn Féin.”
Mr Adams added, “Many unionists are very concerned about the economic consequences of Brexit, including DUP supporters. We all need to be reaching out to them, but we cannot ignore the result of the referendum and Sinn Féin is not for turning on this issue. The Taoiseach should not be for turning either.”

Carroll and McCann align themselves to Tory right wingers – Paul Maskey MP
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey has said Gerry Carroll and Eamonn McCann are out of step with the views of the community on remaining within the EU.
Mr Maskey was speaking after both Gerry Carroll and Eamonn McCann refused to support a motion in the Assembly to support special EU status for the north of Ireland, the motion was subsequently defeated by one vote.
Mr Maskey stated that in effect Carroll and McCann had “aligned themselves on the same pro-Brexit side as Theresa May, Boris Johnston and Nigel Farage.”
Mr Maskey continued, “Gerry Carroll, in the aftermath of the referendum result in June, said there are ‘reasons to be cheerful’ about the outcome of the EU referendum. There are certainly no reasons to be cheerful about Brexit for the people of West Belfast and for people right across the island of Ireland.”
Mr Maskey noted that West Belfast voted 74.1% to remain in the EU and stated: “The loss of EU support and investment into west Belfast will mean less jobs, will mean the local economy is hit hard and the quality of life for everyone in west Belfast will be reduced.” Brexit also presented an uncertain future those people who “have come to west Belfast from countries across the world and made west Belfast their home and contribute positively to our community”.
Mr Maskey concluded, “Gerry Carroll and Eamonn McCann have supported Brexit and these are the appalling consequences.The majority of people here voted to remain in the EU and that vote must be respected.”

Brexit has reignited the ambitions of militarists within the EU – Lynn Boylan MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has stated that “Brexit has reignited the ambitions of militarists within the EU.”
Ms Boylan reaffirmed Sinn Féin’s opposition to any increased militarisation and further erosion of Irish Neutrality. The MEP made the comments while speaking at a conference on protecting Ireland’s neutrality in Dublin on 15th October.
She said; “Four days after the result of the referendum in Britain, the French and German Foreign Ministers presented a position paper which centred on EU being able to employ high readiness forces and provide common financing for its operations and that the EU would need to take action more often in order to manage crises that directly affect its own security.”
Ms Boylan continued, “It is worth noting that Ireland with its so called Lisbon 2 ‘neutrality guarantees’ is not seen as a barrier to a deeper EU defence Strategy. Make no mistake, a common EU defence policy is centred on creating a federal Europe and has little to do in the way of providing safety.”
Ms Boylan stated that Sinn Féin will “oppose any increased militarisation and further erosion of Irish Neutrality when members of the EU Foreign Affairs committee meets next week to discuss the establishment of a European Defence Union.”

Declan Kearney MLA commends Orange initiative on 1916 Rising
Last week, Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA and Seán Lynch MLA attended the ‘Understanding 1916 – Easter Rising’ discussion in Enniskillen, jointly organised by the Fermanagh Orange Order, Church of Ireland, and local Presbyterians and Methodists.
Speaking after the event, Mr Kearney said: “I congratulate the Orange Order and the Protestant section of our community in Fermanagh for organising this discussion on the Easter Rising. I fully agree with the comments of the Grand Master Stuart Booker when he emphasised that such initiatives should not be about agreeing or disagreeing on our history but rather developing greater understanding through listening and speaking.”
Mr Kearney said that in his own contribution from the floor he had stated that: “it is quite valid for us as a society to agree to disagree but that willingness to engage with each other on the basis of equality must be paramount. Engagement about our differences increases mutual understanding and that builds mutual respect. This is what our wider community needs. Willingness to engage was key to the accommodation on the North Belfast parade impasse.”
Mr Kearney concluded, “Direct engagement, appreciation for each other, increased understanding and mutual respect are the basis upon which to discuss our historic and current cultural and political differences and societal divisions. This represents the way forward to building an inclusive, equal, agreed and shared future. I hope we can look forward to similar initiatives as that taken by the Orange and Protestant Churches in Fermanagh being organised elsewhere.”

Notion of student loans rejected loud and clear – Senator Fintan Warfield
Sinn Féin spokesperson for the arts, youth affairs and LGBTQI rights, Senator Fintan Warfield attended the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) march on Wednesday. Speaking afterwards the Senator said that the message from students is loud and clear, they don’t want student loans.
Senator Warfield said: “We have seen the disastrous consequences of student loans in every country in which they have been initiated. In the US, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, all have taken on massive national debt, and created mass indebtedness of our young people.”
The Senator continued, “Student loans are a sure-fire way to stifle the access of third level to our young people, saddling them with debt early in their careers. I commend the USI and Students’ Unions on marching today in their thousands. Sinn Féin support them fully in their call for publicly funded education, and our pre-budget alternative significantly increases public, state support for third level education, reducing the student contribution charge by €500.”

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