Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
03-10 April 2014

State visit – need for governments to focus on future says Adams
On 8 April Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams TD said the occasion of President Higgins’ State visit to Britain visit ‘should focus minds on the need for political leaders to resolve all of the outstanding issues in the Peace Process’.
Mr Adams said that ‘the real and lasting significance of President Higgins’ visit will only be realized if the peace and political processes are `built upon by both governments’.
Gerry Adams said that the ‘momentous event’ had only been made possible ‘because of the Peace Process and the Good Friday Agreement’. He said it was ‘part of a journey; and that much more needs to be done on the ground in the North and between both parts of the island, particularly on the issue of rights’. He said there were ‘great possibilities’ which needed `a focus and a commitment by us all’. He said ‘all identities on this island – Irish and British – must be respected on the basis of equality’.
The participation of Martin McGuinness in the State visit, was, he added ‘a sign of a positive commitment by Irish republicans to engagement with our unionist neighbours and to a new relationship with Britain based on equality and mutual respect’.
He said the Peace Process ‘and the political transformation that has begun on this island remain work in progress’, adding ‘this State visit should be an incentive to build the peace and to continue the journey of transformation.’
Earlier on 5 April Gerry Adams had confirmed that deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness ‘will accept an invitation to attend all events as part of the State visit’.
He described the decision by a ‘confident republican leadership’ as ‘in keeping with the transition that is ongoing within the island of Ireland and between Ireland, including the North, and Britain’.
He said there was now ‘a peaceful and democratic way to end the Union and Partition’ and that Sinn Féin ‘accepts that there is an onus on us to persuade our unionist neighbours that their interests are best served in a new, agreed Ireland’.
He said that while Martin McGuinness’s involvement in President Higgins’s State visit ‘may not be welcome by opponents of change, it is yet another example of Sinn Féin’s commitment to an inclusive future based on tolerance and equality’. He said the decision ‘may cause difficulty for some Irish republicans in light of ongoing difficulties in the north but, I would appeal to them to view this positively in the context of republican and democratic objectives and the interests of unity and peace on this island’.
He concluded: ‘The real significance and value of President Higgins’s visit will only be realised if peace and the political processes are built upon by both Governments. That means implementing all outstanding elements of the Good Friday and other Agreements.’
Sinn Fein MPs Pat Doherty, Michelle Gildernew and Paul Maskey were also present in Westminster to hear President Higgins’ address to MPs, Lords, staff and other gathered guests. Pat Doherty said he welcomed the opportunity to accept the, as part of the week’s events ‘in building positive relations between the two islands on the basis of equality’.
Sinn Fein MPs Conor Murphy and Francie Molloy were also set to attend a Windsor Castle reception and a celebration event at the Royal Albert Hall on the Thursday, also as part of the official events for the visit.

Tebbitt remarks show why dealing with past must be a political priority – Gerry Adams TD
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has criticised remarks by the former Chairman of the British Conservative Party, Norman Tebbitt, in which he said he hoped a dissident republican group would shoot the North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
Mr Adams said ‘I fully understand that Norman Tebbitt has himself been a victim of the political conflict and I regret that he has suffered grievously. However, to publicly advocate the assassination of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is a shocking throwback to a violent past from which we are seeking to move on. The State visit is another important milestone in doing that.’
He said the remarks by Mr Tebbitt were ‘another clear example of why the issue of the past needs to be dealt with as a political priority’. He added ‘Martin McGuinness is a leader of political and personal courage who has worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the Peace Process and the cause of reconciliation between unionist and nationalist and between Britain and Ireland, at considerable risk to himself.’
He said ‘Martin, his home and indeed his family have been targets for abuse and attack by so-called “dissident republicans”. To now have this type of activity encouraged by a member of the British House of Lords is unacceptable, and should be rejected by all right thinking people.’
He concluded: ‘Political leaders on both sides of the Irish Sea should reject the sentiments expressed by Mr Tebbitt.’

‘1981’ play comes to London
On Sunday 11 May, Tony Devlin’s acclaimed play ‘1981’ telling the story of the Hunger Strike of that year will be performed by the Brassneck theatre Company, for one evening only in London. Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane, who was the leader of the political prisoners in the jail during the Hunger Strike will also appear as special guest during the evening, and will perform music.
Speaking about the play, Tony Devlin has said: ‘The 1981 Irish hungerstrike, in which ten men gave their lives in the struggle for political status, irreversibly shaped political developments for decades to come. In this unique piece of theatre, we are given a deep insight into the lives of each of the ten men as to who they really were.
Through music, song, visuals and performance, this one-person show takes us on an extraordinary journey of how ten very ordinary men, shook the world from their prison cells. An ultimately uplifting piece of theatre through tragedy of Shakespearean proportions, 1981 is the story behind the legacy of the Irish hungerstrike. The equality that we all enjoy today… the laughter of our children.’
Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew, who is the current Sinn Fein MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone, the seat which was won by Bobby Sands said, ‘I am delighted that Tony Devlin’s incredible play is being brought to London. It will be a great opportunity for people to get to see it, and to learn about the hugely significant events of the Hunger strike, which still has an impact today – this is an important part of our history and I urge people to take the chance to get along to see the play’.
The play will be performed at the Crown Moran Hotel, in Cricklewood an Tickets are available here.

Easter Lily ‘remembers the past, with the promise of a bright future’
On 8 April Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD launched the ‘Wear an Easter Lily’ campaign. The Sinn Féin leader urged citizens to wear an Easter Lilly in remembrance of all of those who gave their lives in the cause of Irish freedom. Easter Lilies will be available online from the Sinn Féin bookshop.
Gerry Adams said that Easter would see ‘tens of thousands of people in towns, villages and cities, at country crossroads and at lonely hillside graveyards across the country’ attend commemorations to mark the anniversary of the Easter Rising.
They would gather, he said ‘to remember those republican revolutionaries who, in 1916 took on the might of the British empire and asserted in arms Ireland’s right to independence’ and to `honour those who died in the cause of Irish freedom in every decade before and since 1916’.
Encouraging as many people as possible ‘to join in those commemorations, to celebrate 1916 and promote the ideal of Irish unity and independence’, Mr Adams said that the ‘symbol of our enduring commitment to these ideals and of our respect for all those, from every generation, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for Irish freedom, is the Easter Lily’.
The colours of green, white and orange meant the Lily was `a symbol long associated with the Easter Rising of 1916 and one with a long and fascinating history’.
He concluded: ‘We wear an Easter Lily with pride, mindful not only of the past but of the promise of a brighter future.’

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