Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
13-20 November 2014

Sinn Fein MPs urge: time to build pro-Agreement support
The past week has seen a strong presence of Sinn Fein MPs and representatives in London and elsewhere to put a renewed focus on the need to support the Good Friday Agreement, in the context of the current Belfast talks. Sinn Fein MPs Conor Murphy, Paul Maskey and Pat Doherty were in London to discuss with senior political representatives in the Labour Party and met government representatives around concerns over an `anti-agreement axis’ which was acting to block political change.
The Sinn Fein representatives were in London to press for more pro-active support for the Agreement across the political spectrum and urged civic society, including the trade unions and the Irish diaspora community, which commands strong support for the Agreement and the peace process, to make its voice heard. Pat Doherty was in attendance at the All-Party Irish in Britain Group of MPs meeting, where chair Chris Ruane and Labour Shadow Secretary of State Ivan Lewis reiterated the importance of support for the peace process.

Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy will be among speakers at a public meeting `Why we need to build support for the Good Friday Agreement’ next Tuesday 25 November, 7.30pm in the Boothroyd room, Portcullis House, where he urged a `good turn out to give some strong expression to that pro-Agreement voice’. Other speakers will include House of Lords Members Lord Alderdice, Baroness Smith and Lord Dubs, and Irish in Britain CEO Jennie McShannon. Michelle Gildernew MP will chair the meeting.

Meanwhile, in Liverpool Sinn Fein MP Francie Molloy will speak at a similar meeting, on Tuesday 9th December, 7.30pm, St Michaels Irish Centre, Liverpool. The meeting is hosted by Cairde na hEireann Liverpool.

Securing new financial package is a key talks objective – McGuinness
On 19 November Sinn Féin MLA Martin McGuinness said securing a new financial package for the North was a `key objective’ for his party in the current negotiations.
Speaking in Derry at the first in a series of community engagement meetings by the Sinn Féin leadership, Mr McGuinness commented `the current political and financial crisis facing the power sharing institutions has, in a large part, been caused by the British government’s assault on the North’s block grant.’
He said billions of pounds had been `stripped from our budget over the last four years as the result of this austerity agenda by the British government’, adding `this is obviously impacting on the ability of Executive departments to continue delivering public services and has exacerbated the political difficulties we are facing’.
He said the British government must `accept their responsibilities and bring to the table the political will to resolve the problem which they played a major part in creating’, which he said `means they will have to deliver a new economic package for the North which undoes the damage caused by this assault on the block grant’.
He said there was a `growing consensus among all the parties that this needs to happen if the current negotiations are to reach a successful outcome’. He concluded: `This is a key objective for Sinn Féin and we are calling on all other parties to support us in securing a new financial package which will help secure the future of the power sharing institutions.’

British government obstruction of truth must end – Kelly
Last week, Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said the British government must `accept its involvement in the conflict and for dealing with its legacy’.
He was speaking ahead of a trilateral meeting today with the British and Irish governments on the issue of the legacy of the conflict, and said it was `clear that Theresa Villiers and the British government have been actively obstructing truth recovery when it comes to the activities of its forces and agents.’
He added: `they have reneged on the commitment to hold an inquiry into the murder of human rights lawyer Pat Finucane by British agents. The British government fears the outcome of any enquiry with the potential to expose British state collusion in political assassinations and their agent’s involvement in directing loyalist death squads – a policy which went to the very top of the Thatcher government.’
`They continue to withhold information from the inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, shelved the inquiry into the murder of 14 people in Derry on Bloody Sunday and rejected a demand for a Hillsborough-style inquiry into the Ballymurphy Massacre of 11 civilians. They have blocked truth recovery through injunctions, destroying documents and evidence. They have also refused to disclose information requested by the coroners’ courts and the Ombudsman’s office and failed to back the Haass proposals.
He concluded: `The British government and their agents were active participants in the conflict. They must accept their responsibility for state killings and the role of their agents in loyalist death squads.’

Government water charge proposal is a desperate attempt to cling to power – Adams
Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams TD said that the Dublin government’s package on water charges was `all about is giving the government a lifeline to run for its full term of office, not about relieving the pressure on those who cannot pay water charges’.
He said that after all the hype, water charges `are here to stay’. The water metering programme will continue. Metered charges are coming in and there is still no constitutional right to water.
Mr Adams said that the Government was engaged in a PR offensive `in a desperate attempt to cling to power for the next year, and that the maximum possible turnout in protest against water charges on December 10th was needed to deliver home the message once and for all that water charges must be scrapped’.
Meanwhile, in response to the government’s announcement on Irish Water and its insistence on introducing water charges, Sinn Féin TD, Martin Ferris said the government was `trying to get the water charges over the line and diffuse public opposition to another unpopular tax and an unpopular government’.
He added, `This is a public relations offensive and the truth is that if the government has its way, the water charges are here to stay, the water metering programme is set to continue, metered charges are on their way and there is still no right to water written into our constitution.’ He concluded: `I believe the Irish people will not be fooled and that the turnout on 10 December for the water charges protest will send the message to the government again.’

Sinn Fein move Bill to retain water services in public ownership
Sinn Féin spokesperson on the Environment, Brian Stanley TD, this week moved a Bill in the Dáil, which if passed, would initiate a referendum proposing to amend the Constitution in order to retain the water services in public ownership.
Deputy Stanley said the bill was `seeking to ensure that the water service will not be privatised’. He added `We propose to amend Article 40 to insert a new Section which reads: “The state recognises the right of all persons to sufficient, safe and accessible water and as guardian of the common good shall defend and vindicate this right and ensure that water services and infrastructure remain in public ownership.”
He said `We chose to amend this article rather than Article 10, which was another option, as we think that the recognition of access to water as a right is much more fundamental than any economic argument. That is central to the global debate on water which has only in recent decades become a target for corporate adventurers seeking to control what even the most conservative governments have traditionally recognised as a public good, and one which ought where possible be provided to people free of charge.’
He concluded `Our Bill is about giving back ownership and control of water services and infrastructure to the people. It would guarantee that our water could never come under the control of vulture capitalists or marketers. So the message is protect our water infrastructure and keep it in the hands of the people of Ireland and scrap household water charges.’

Gap in wages between men and women must be closed – Fearon
This week Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon said the gap in wages between men and women `must be closed’.
Speaking after the publication of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings report, the Newry and Armagh MLA said `Once again statistics have shown women get paid less significantly than men.’ She said `the gap may have closed but it is ridiculous it remains at all in this day and age.’
She said the report found the median weekly gross salary for men is £557.80 while for women it was £461.90 which was `unacceptable and must be challenged.’
She added `This is yet another aspect of life where women are discriminated against’ and concluded: `There is an onus on everyone to work to challenge inequality and discrimination in all walks of life wherever it occurs. Gender equality will only be achieved when this pay gap, and other areas of inequality, are closed completely.’

Irish citizens in the north and abroad should have full voting rights
Sinn Féin’s newly appointed Spokesperson on the Diaspora Trevor Ó Clochartaigh urged the Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly to extend voting rights to Irish citizens in the north of Ireland and to Irish people living abroad.
Senator O Clochartaigh said the Constitutional Convention’s final report `recommended that voting rights in presidential elections be extended to Irish citizens living abroad and in the north of Ireland’.
He added `This is a positive move which bring us into line with other EU countries most of whom allow their non-resident citizens to vote in elections. However since the advent of the crisis and the government’s programme of austerity people have in increasing numbers been forced to emigrate to find work. These people deserve a say in the future of the country and the right to vote in all elections.’
Sinn Féin, he said favoured `a reserved Dáil constituency for citizens in the north and the diaspora’ which would `allow the government to deal with voting rights with limited disruption to the current electoral system’.
He said `They should also be entitled to representation in a reformed Seanad. As someone who was born in England to immigrant parents from Connemara it was a great honour to be appointed to the diaspora portfolio. I intend to pursue this issue so that Irish people, irrespective of where they live have an opportunity to vote in all major elections and referenda.’

Adams slams Government 1916 plans as “disrespectful and cynical”
Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams TD has slammed the lack of detail in Government plans to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising which he said were deeply disrespectful to the men and women of 1916 and betray a cynical indifference to their ideals, hopes and vision.
Speaking in the Dáil today Gerry Adams said: `Taoiseach, it is very clear that your incompetent Government has no intention of fulfilling the vision of the 1916 Proclamation. Indeed, everything you do is marked contrast to this progressive, democratic declaration.
`You also have no intention of properly commemorating and celebrating the 1916 Rising. For three years you offered no plan, no proposals, no ideas and no vision of how the State should mark the hugely significant 100th anniversary of the Rising.
`Last week, under mounting pressure from the relatives of the 1916 Leaders and growing public concern, your Government produced a glossy brochure devoid of historical substance or details. Sinn Fein Minister Jennifer McCann and I attended the launch in the GPO. I found it ironic that the self-serving Ministerial speeches were drowned out by the noise of anti-water charge rebels who had besieged the GPO.
`Taoiseach, can you explain to the Dáil why the video which launches ‘Ireland 2016’ makes no mention of the Easter Rising or of the signatories of the Proclamation? Instead, we are treated to images of Facebook, Google, Bob Geldof, Bono, David Cameron and the English Queen! Is this what the Government believes the 1916 Rising was about?’
Mr Adams asked the Taoiseach if he would agree that the Ireland 2016 video and the flimsy commemorative brochure `are deeply disrespectful to the men and women of 1916 and betray a cynical indifference to their ideals, hopes and vision.
He said it is now clear that former Fine Gael Leader John Bruton has won the argument about how the Government should proceed on this important issue.
`In another deeply embarrassing development, it emerged that the Government used ‘Google translate’ on its 1916 website, with the result that the Proclamation was reduced to meaningless gibberish.
`I think that is symbolic of this Government’s entire approach to the anniversary and more importantly perhaps to the Proclamation and the language. It seems you can’t do anything right but in this case your actions reflect your attitude.
`The reality is that the Government won’t mark the Rising appropriately because it is opposed to the political, social and economic intent of the 1916 Proclamation. Despite this shameful official neglect, ordinary Irish citizens, North and South, and the Irish Diaspora will celebrate and educate and pay tribute to the brave men and women of 1916.”
The Sinn Fein Leader mentioned the 1916 Relatives’ Association, who said the Government is trampling on the men and women who fought in the Rising: `Spokeswoman Una McNulty said ‘the Government doesn’t know what they’re doing, they’d years to plan for this but this is a shambles and was put together in a blind panic,’ ” added Mr. Adams.

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