Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
22 – 29 May 2014

Election results:
‘A profound change in Ireland’s political landscape’
The local and European elections saw a strong rise in support for Sinn Fein, with the party increasing its mandate in the local elections, north and south, and in the European elections where Sinn Fein candidates were returned in everyone of Ireland’s electoral areas, and Sinn Fein’s Martina Anderson and Lynn Boylan topping the poll in Belfast and Dublin respectively. Matt Carthy (North West and Midlands) and Liadh Ni Riadh (South were also elected as MEPs.Sinn Fein candidates topped the poll in council elections across Ireland, seeing the largest representation and vote for Sinn Fein since 1918, and with the party emerging as the largest single party on the island.
In the European elections in the north Sinn Fein won 25.5 per cent – the largest party – and in the south, some 19.5 per cent overall, with Lynn Boylan polling 23 per cent.
In the local elections in the north Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party with 24 per cent. Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party in a number of areas across Ireland, and in the cities of Belfast, Cork, Dublin and Derry. In the local elections in the 26 counties, Sinn Fein vote rose to 15.2 per cent overall.
On 26 May, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said that voters had ‘endorsed Sinn Féin’s message that there is a fairer way’ and had rejected the ‘consensus for cuts’ represented by Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil.
Mr Adams said the result was also an endorsement for Sinn Fein’s message ‘of the need to reinvigorate the Peace Process and for an agreed, united Ireland’. He said the party had `trebled our local representation’. Sinn Fein’s newly elected MEPs ‘will stand up for Ireland’, he said, adding that Sinn Fein’s councillors ‘will fight for genuine community interests which put the needs of citizens first’.
He said that the ‘huge vote’ for Sinn Fein marked ‘a profound change in the political landscape of this state’ and that it was wrong for the Government to dismisses this as a protest vote ‘or, as the Taoiseach claims, a sign of frustration by the electorate’.
The Government had, Mr Adams said ‘been sent a very clear message’ that ‘they do not have public support for the damaging policies they are implementing’.
He concluded: ‘he voters have called time on this government. They should change political direction or call a General Election.’
Gerry Adams also thanked all those who voted for the party and all those who stood for Sinn Féin throughout the island, North and South.
He said that voters were ‘seeking a new kind of politics’. He added, ‘some combination of Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil has been in government since the foundation of the southern state. The old way of doing politics, as practiced by these parties has failed. People want change.’
He said that Sinn Féin was ‘involved in a historically unprecedented effort to build genuine republican politics in both states on this island. Building capacity and resources and membership is a big task for us and we will continue to grow.’
He appealed to people to ‘join Sinn Fein in building a citizen-centered, rights based republic on this island.’

* London Public Meeting – ‘the next steps after the election’
Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy will be among speakers to discuss the election results and the next steps in the political process, including the need to press ahead with the peace process in the north, at a London meeting on Tuesday 17 June, 7pm, Grimond Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons. All welcome. Email fisherj@parliament.uk for further details.

‘This is a victory for ordinary people’
Sinn Féin’s newly elected MEP Liadh Ní Riada MEP has said that her election to the European Parliament is a victory for the ordinary people of Ireland.
Ms Ni Riada said Sinn Féin ‘went to people of Ireland South with the very clear message that there is a better, fairer alternative to the politics of austerity and cuts’. She said her election was ‘a victory for ordinary people who have suffered so much under the regressive policies pushed by the European Commission and implemented with such relish by successive governments here at home’.
She said Sinn Féin MEPs would ‘fight for a change of direction and to put a socially progressive agenda at the centre of the decision making process’.
The government had, she added, ‘failed to lift the toxic banking debt off the shoulders of the Irish people. This is an injustice and it must be addressed and addressed genuinely – not just kicking the debt down the road to be endured by future generations. It is not our debt and it is not the debt of our children and grandchildren.’
She said Sinn Fein would work to ‘deliver the political change so badly needed across this island.’

Change of government needed – Adams
Responding to Eamon Gilmore’s resignation as Labour Leader last week, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said that this was ‘not about personalities, it’s about policies’.
Mr Adams said the voters had ‘rejected the policies of this Government’ and ‘the brutal agenda of relentless austerity, taking medical cards from sick children, water taxes and cuts to the most vulnerable’.
He concluded: ‘What is required is a change of political direction and a change of Government.’

McGuinness calls on Robinson to show leadership in promoting equality
Joint First Minister Martin McGuinness has called on Peter Robinson to show leadership in promoting equality, tolerance and mutual respect for all.
Martin McGuinness said: ‘All of us in positions of leadership have a responsibility to represent and stand up for all the people of our society. We have a duty to promote equality, mutual respect and tolerance for all in our society based on the core principles contained in the Good Friday Agreement.’
He added ‘We must recognise and embrace the social, cultural and religious diversity of our society. I value the diversity and multicultural nature of our society the significant and valuable contribution the Muslim community makes to this society day and daily. There is a real need for all of us those in positions of responsibility to step out of our own political constituencies and religious groupings and show genuine political leadership for all.’
The comments came after an interview made by Mr Robinson for the Irish News, in which he defends Pastor O Connell, who had been widely criticised for being inflammatory in remarks he made about Muslims. The BBC report that the Pastor’s remarks are being investigated by police and Martin McGuinness had called for the remarks to be condemned in `the strongest possible terms’. Mr Robinson’s interview can be heard here on the BBC’s website.

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