Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
01 – 08 October 2015

British legislation on legacy `a breach of the Agreement’
On 7 October Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly warned that British government proposals to deal with the legacy of the past were `unacceptable and a clear breach of the Stormont House Agreement’.
He said the British government needed to do more to resolve the difficulties it has created for the political process: `All the parties at Stormont House agreed on the need to provide justice and truth recovery mechanisms for the families of victims of the conflict. The British government’s legislation on dealing with the legacy of the past is in clear breach of the Stormont House Agreement’.
He said the legislation being proposed by Theresa Villiers and her colleagues in the British government was `about hiding the British state’s role as a central player in the conflict and its collusion with unionist death squads’.
He said it was `unacceptable’ and that the British government had `created many of the difficulties currently faced by the Executive and they must step up to the plate in working with others in finding resolutions.’

Kearney welcomes European Trade Union Confederation motion on North
Speaking on 5 October Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney welcomed the European Trade Union Confederation decision to pass an emergency motion at its Congress in Paris registering deep concern about the deepening political crisis in the North.
The ETUC represents over 60 million workers and Trade Union Congresses across Europe. The mostion also called for political stability supported by an economic and financial stimulus package in the north.
Declan Kearney said the ICTU and the ETUC initiative was the kind of `positive interventions by the international community [which] are urgently required in response to the deteriorating political situation’. He said the international labour movement could now `build on this effort and maximise the positive influence it can exert in Ireland, Britain, Europe and the US’.
Mr Kearney held a series of detailed briefings with European political parties on the crisis, including from Greece, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and the Basque Country.

Sinn Fein delegations press British party conferences over need to defend the Good Friday Agreement and British government role
Recent weeks saw a number of Sinn Fein representatives attend British party conference. Paul Maskey MP, Jennifer McCann MLA and Francie Molloy attended the Labour conference in Brighton, where a packed Sinn Fein fringe meeting discussed the need to defend the Good Friday Agreement – Equality not Austerity. Labour Shadow Secretary of State joined the panel discussion and asserted Labour’s position that the Good Friday Agreement had to be implemented. A statement from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, reiterating Labour’s strong commitment to the peace process was also read out at the meeting, chaired by Mirror Associate Editor Kevin Maguire.
Paul Maskey said: `the British government need to accept they have created the current political difficulties with their austerity cuts agenda. They cannot evade that responsibility and present themselves as some sort of honest broker between the parties. They are clearly a player in this process.’
Jennifer McCann also warned of the dire effects of Tory austerity which `remains the biggest threat to the political institutions’. She urged `a united voice from all political parties and wider civic society challenging that agenda.’
Elsewhere Sinn Fein MP Francie Molloy MP addressed the Champ Breakfast event, warning of the dangers for Ireland north and south of a British exit from the EU. A similar theme was picked up at both Conservative and Lib Dem conference events, which were also addressed by Sinn Fein MPs Pat Doherty and Mickey Brady respectively.

DUP ministers should stop playing musical chairs and return to work
On 6 October Sinn Féin health spokesperson Rosie McCorley MLA said today that DUP ministers should `stop playing musical chairs and return to work on behalf of all the people of the community’.
Rosie McCorley said `we need ministers to be in their posts every day, doing their jobs and working for the entire community’ adding, `the public expect, and are entitled to see, ministers doing the jobs they are supposed to be doing’.
She said the DUP’s position was becoming `more farcical by the day when one minister can come into the Assembly to answer questions on financial matters but the health minister failed to turn up to discuss cancer waiting times’.
She concluded `DUP ministers need to stop playing musical chairs and return to their jobs immediately.’

British withdrawal from EU would undermine all-Ireland economy
Last week Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney said a British withdrawal from the European Union would have `negative implications’ for Ireland, north and south.
Speaking to MEPs at a GUE/NGL study visit in Carrickmacross, Mr Kearney said
`A full or even partial British withdrawal would represent a setback for political and economic progress and the process of democratic transformation in the north.
He said it would `lead to the prospect of reinforced partition with the potential for customs checkpoints, trading tariffs, and adverse knock-on effects for all-island economic activity and cooperation.’
He added there could be the loss of Common Agriculture & Fisheries Policy payments to those in the agri-economy alongside the loss of EU structural funding which has been central to small, medium enterprise development, community regeneration and government programmes.
He said a British exit` would negatively affect local business, and the potential for growing the private sector and promoting enterprise and growth. This would undermine the north as a region attractive to foreign investment and as a gateway point for US investors and investment to mainland Europe itself.’
He concluded: `Sinn Féin will oppose any attempts by the British government to withdraw from Europe or make its relationship more conditional.’

Adams visits Cuba
At the beginning of October Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD was in Cuba on an official visit.
In the course of the visit he met Cuban Vice President Salvador Antonio Valdés Mesa, and a range of senior Ministers in the government and leaders in the National Assembly.
Gerry Adams said Sinn Féin had had fraternal ties with Cuba for many years and there was `a close connection between the Irish people and the people of Cuba’.
He said he had last visited Havana 14 years ago and was `keen to return to discuss the dramatic and historic diplomatic and political developments that are occurring in US – Cuban relationships’.
Sinn Féin, he said had `long opposed the embargo imposed by the US for the last five decades’ adding `its economic, cultural and human cost on the people of Cuba has been enormous’.
He said the interests of Latin America and especially of Cuba and the US were `best served by an end to the embargo and the creation of a new relationship based on mutual respect and equality’. He said `as we have learned in the Irish peace process, and in our own experience of conflict resolution, the exclusion and demonising of opponents never works and doesn’t solve problems.’
He said Sinn Féin believed in dialogue `as the best means of resolving disputes between individuals, peoples and states’, adding `for it to be successful it requires vision and leadership and a willingness to take risks for peace and for progress’.
He said the recent rapprochement in relations between the USA and Cuba `opens up the possibility of an end to the embargo. The relaxation of some aspects of it is already assisting the Cuban economy, particularly in respect of tourism. But the embargo must go in its entirety’.
`Leadership demands a preparedness to see opportunity where before there was none; and then to have the courage to take the next step and make it happen. It’s about seizing the moment. It’s about refusing to be defined by the past and to be willing to be open to new ideas, new concepts and the possibility of making friends with former enemies.
`Key to the progress we have witnessed thus far has been the leadership demonstrated by President Raul Castro and by President Obama. The positive and supportive efforts and encouragement of Pope Francis has also been important.
He concluded by commending President Castro and President Obama and `Cuba’s role in facilitating the Colombian peace process’.
`These developments are creating a new positive dynamic in the relationships of these neighbours and a beacon of hope and reconciliation in difficult times.’

Sinn Féin affirms solidarity with Palestinian people as flag finally flies at UN
On 30 September, Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin TD and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, expressed his solidarity for the Palestinian people on a day when the flag of Palestine flew over government buildings to mirror the flag being raised over the United Nations in New York.
Deputy Crowe made the point however that Sinn Féin tabled a Dáil Private Members Motion in December 2014 demanding recognition of the Palestinian State which was supported unanimously by the Dáil, but which the Government has yet to deliver upon.
Deputy Crowe said `I wish to extend Sinn Féin’s, the Irish people’s, and my own solidarity for the Palestinian people on a day when the flag of Palestine is raised above Irish Government Buildings, the United Nations, and parliaments across the world. An overwhelming majority of the member states of the UN backed a hugely symbolic motion to fly the flag of Palestine at the UN.
He added `General recognition of Palestinian statehood should now follow. We will continue to call on all member states to recognise Palestinian statehood to give further support to the Palestinian people and assist the peace process in the region.
He concluded: `I regret however that Sinn Féin tabled a Dáil Private Members Motion in December 2014 calling for recognition of the Palestinian State which was supported unanimously by the Dáil, but which the Government has yet to deliver upon. The government should take this momentous occasion as an opportunity to take the next step and recognise the Palestinian people’s right to stand shoulder to shoulder with the other countries of the world.’

Week in Review is circulated by Sinn Fein MPs. Email jayne.fisher@parliament.uk to join the list. For further information visit www.sinnfein.ie or follow us on twitter @sinnfeinireland