Sinn Fein
The Week(s) in Review
11 – 25 November 2016

Sinn Féin launches landmark reconciliation document
On Wednesday 23rd November, Sinn Féin launched a reconciliation policy document: “Towards an Agreed and Reconciled Future – Sinn Féin Policy on Reconciliation and Healing” in Clifton House, Belfast.
Speaking ahead of the launch Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA and national chairperson of Sinn Féin said: “This year has been hugely significant in terms of the potential to advance increased understanding and reconciliation in Ireland. Important events to remember, celebrate and commemorate seminal centenaries have occurred, reflecting our shared histories and multiple narratives.”
Mr Kearney continued: “Increased understanding and mutual respect are the basis upon which to address our historic and current cultural and political differences and communal divisions. As a society we should open our minds to a discussion on the development of a shared culture of commemoration based upon parity of esteem, mutual respect and equality. This represents the way forward to building an inclusive, equal, agreed and shared future.”
At the launch, Sinn Féin MLA and deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness stated that such a process of reconciliation requires increased involvement from political unionism.
Mr McGuinness said: “Republicans have rightly embraced the challenge of reconciliation. Sinn Féin has demonstrated our commitment to this process through a number of public initiatives which at times have also presented challenges for Republicans. But in order for that process to be successful, for our people to be truly reconciled, there needs to be a reciprocation of our efforts; this cannot be a one-way process.”
Mr McGuinness stated: “There needs to be respect for all the traditions on this island, for all narratives. The Irish language, Irish identity, culture and aspiration is as valid as any other and needs to be respected as such. That will require mature leadership from political unionism because we alone cannot deliver reconciliation. A genuine reconciliation process must seek to create common ground where the collective focus is to build for the future.”
The deputy First Minister concluded: “Sinn Féin will continue to offer positive leadership and we will continue to pursue the national reconciliation of our people.”

Unity Makes Economic Sense
Writing for thejournal.ie Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir has said that partition has been an economic cul-de-sac for Ireland and that it’s time to talk about Irish unity.
The South Belfast MLA and Minister for Finance said: “Partition has been an economic cul de sac for Ireland; north and south. It has held back economic progress right across the island.”
Mr Ó Muilleoir said, “The North now lags behind the south on all growth indices: average wages south of the Border are €37,000, but just €25,500 in the North. Economic growth rates in the South are estimated at 3.6 per cent for 2017 but at just over 1 per cent in the North. Along the border region in particular the impact of partition was, and is still keenly felt. “
The Minister for Finance stated, “A united Ireland with a single, all-Ireland economy would not only end the duplication of services on an island of 6.4 million, it would also address the economic uncertainty created by partition. That would create an environment where business can thrive and grow.”
Earlier in the week, Sinn Féin Senator Rose Conway-Walsh called for a debate in the Seanad on the economics of Irish Unity.
The Senator from Mayo said: “I am pleased that the debate surrounding Irish Unity has moved to a real discussion of the ongoing costs of partition. It is no longer as simple as can we afford unity; it is a debate around whether we can afford continuing division.”
She continued, “It is estimated that the island could benefit by up to €35 billion in the first years after unity. We must also address the flip side of this argument. Continuing with the status quo would deny the island such an economic boost. It is also not just an issue for Sinn Féin. It will impact us all.”
Read ‘Unity Makes Economic Sense’ Document

Children’s human rights must be protected – Paul Maskey MP
Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast, Paul Maskey, has stated that the Human Rights of children should not be abused and they should be free from intimidation following an image appearing of a young girl being questioned by the PSNI during a stop and search operation.
Speaking today Mr Maskey said: “It has come to our attention, following a picture being widely circulated on social media, that children were caught up in a stop and search operation by the PSNI. The picture appears to show a young girl being questioned by the PSNI. This is unacceptable policing. The Human Rights of children should not be abused and children should be free from intimidation from anyone including action such as this by the PSNI. We have already contacted the PSNI and have strongly criticised these actions.”
The West Belfast MP concluded: “Sinn Féin will commend good policing when it occurs however we will also challenge and raise poor policing such as this at all levels.”

Taoiseach must ring Egyptian President Sisi as second avenue for Ibrahim’s release is highlighted – Lynn Boylan MEP
Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has said that she will contact An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to provide evidence of a second legal avenue that is open to Ibrahim Halawa. Despite assurances from the Taoiseach that he would contact President Sisi directly, it appears that Mr Kenny is once again opting for soft diplomacy by writing a letter instead.
Speaking from Strasbourg, the Sinn Féin MEP said: “There are two very concrete options open to Ibrahim Halawa. The first is the Presidential Decree, Rule 140 which allows for foreign nationals to be returned home to face trial or serve out their sentences. While the Irish Government endorsed an application under rule 140 in July, Mr Kenny has insisted that this is a difficult option to pursue.”
The MEP continued: “Correspondence I received today from the Egyptian Ambassador to the EU outlines a possible second option available. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cairo recently released a statement concerning the Presidential Pardon granted to 82 young people. Needless to say Ibrahim Halawa was not included among those 82 young people. The Ministry clearly stated that ‘the Presidential pardon [for the 82] was issued in accordance with Article 155 of the constitution which allows for the President to issue pardons or mitigate final sentences after consulting with the cabinet’.”
Ms Boylan concluded: “As Ibrahim’s seventeenth so called ‘trial’ approaches on December 13th, I am asking once again that Enda Kenny lift the phone to President Sisi and specifically outline the two viable options under Egyptian law that are available to Ibrahim Halawa.”

Irish Government must challenge Turkish authorities on political repression – Seán Crowe TD
Sinn Féin’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Seán Crowe TD, has challenged the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, to urgently raise the case of Faysal Sariyildiz, an MP with the pro Kurdish party HDP, who is currently stranded in Brussels after having his passport revoked by the Turkish Government.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Seán Crowe TD said: “Last week I was due to meet with the HDP MP, Faysal Sariyildiz, but he is currently stranded in Brussels because his passport was revoked by the Turkish authorities.”
Mr Crowe stated: “The HDP is the third largest party in the Turkish Parliament and they have been targeted by the Turkish Government due to their success, and their progressive and left wing policies. Faysal was carrying out important legal and diplomatic work for the HDP and has been travelling to European capitals detailing the mass killing of Kurdish civilians by the Turkish military in his home city of Cizre. The cancelling of his passport would appear to be a crude attempt to silence that work.”
The TD continued, The Turkish security forces sealed off the Kurdish majority city of Cizre and implemented a siege from December 2015 to February 2016. The city had limited access to water and food and many of the injured were prohibited to receive professional medical treatment. According to independent news reports, the level of damage to the city was comparable to the brutal siege of Kobani by Da’esh. In April 2016, the Turkish Human Rights Association watchdog submitted a report to the United Nations detailing the mass killing of over 120 Kurdish civilians in Cizre. Faysal was a witness to the mass killing of civilians and the gross violations of human rights.”
Mr Crowe called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to raise Faysal’s case directly with the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, saying: “The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs must call in the Turkish Ambassador to explain Ireland’s complete condemnation of the imprisonment of eleven HDP MPs and the two HDP Co-Chairs.”

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