Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
24-30 April 2014

Election an opportunity to make clear stand against austerity
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD was in north Belfast this week canvassing with party candidate Gerry Kelly.
The Sinn Féin leader said the May 7 election was ‘one of the most important elections in recent years.’ He said, ‘Whichever party or parties make up the next British government all are committed to austerity. The Tories have stated their intention to cut £12 billion more out of welfare and Labour have also promised more austerity.’
He added ‘the next British government will seek to impose further cuts to the block grant.’ He said that Unionist parties had ‘conservative policies and support the Tories’ and urged ‘working-class unionists to reflect on the fact that the unionist parties do not represent their economic interests.’
He said the Unionist parties ‘all back a Tory EU referendum that could see Britain leave the European Union with disastrous consequences for jobs and for the economy.’ He said Sinn Féin was ‘the only party in the north to have taken a clear stand against austerity.’
Sinn Fein were ‘determined to oppose future cuts and to demand the restoration of the one and a half billion already taken from the block grant’ and had ‘a proven record of building the economy and targeting investment to frontline services and protecting the most vulnerable.’
Gerry Kelly was part of a ‘strong Sinn Féin team’, and would be ‘relentless in seeking the best deal for all our people’. The election was ‘an opportunity to take a stand against the Westminster politics of austerity and for a vision of a united, prosperous, equal and inclusive Ireland’ he said.
Mr Adams concluded: ‘After the election we will be seeking an immediate negotiation with the incoming British Government to restore the budget and protect public services and to gain full control over our economy. A vote for Sinn Féin will strengthen our hand.’
On 30 April, Sinn Féin Upper Bann candidate Catherine Seeley said Sinn Féin was ‘the only party offering credible opposition to austerity’.
She said that during the Stormont House negotiations ‘it was Sinn Féin who held out for protections for children with disabilities, adults with severe disabilities, the long-term sick and large families.’

Wells position ‘not tenable’ after ‘reprehensible’ slur on gay couples
This week saw growing focus on the DUP’s regressive positions in relation LGBT equality and other equalities issues, following a statement made by health minister Jim Wells at an election hustings. Calls for Wells to resign grew, and Martin MacGuinness said his position as Health Minister was no longer tenable following his slur on gay couples.
Mr McGuinness said ‘Jim Wells’ attack on the LGBT community was reprehensible and completely unacceptable from someone holding the position of Health Minister.’
He added ‘I accept that he is under pressure as a result of his wife’s serious illness and I acknowledge that he has apologised. However I think those words will ring hollow when judged against the DUP’s opposition to marriage equality, its support for a ban on blood donations from gay men and opposition to adoption by gay couples.’
He said his position as Health Minister ‘is clearly no longer tenable and the DUP leadership should now reflect on that.’

Fearon calls on progressive MLAs to support marriage equality
Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon called on all progressive MLAs in the Assembly to vote for Sinn Fein’s motion on marriage equality in an Assembly debate this week, despite the DUP once again blocking the bill through a Petition of Concern.
The Newry and Armagh MLA said Sinn Féin was ‘committed to the promotion of equality and challenging homophobia, racism, sectarianism and all forms of discrimination.’
She said it was the fourth time Sinn Féin had brought a motion in favour of marriage equality before the Assembly and it was ‘disappointing that the DUP have tabled a Petition of Concern to block this important motion.’ However, she said it was ‘important progressive politicians send a clear message of support for the LGBT community by voting in large numbers for marriage equality’ and ‘make it clear in the chamber that homophobia is completely unacceptable.’
She said Marriage equality ‘threatens no one’ and ‘gives gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people equal rights under the law in relation to marriage.’ Sinn Féin is currently campaigning for a Yes vote in the marriage equality referendum in the South.

DUP offensive remarks ‘unacceptable’
Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay has said it is unacceptable for Ian Paisley Jnr to stand over offensive remarks made in relation to the gay community.
The North Antrim Westminster candidate said ‘the disgraceful remarks of Ian Paisley junior in relation to the gay community caused pain and hurt when they were first made.’ He said ‘That has been reinforced now by him stating that he stands by those offensive remarks.’
Mr McKay added ‘it is unacceptable for a public representative to make such remarks in the first place but to then stand over them is outright bigotry. The people of North Antrim deserve better than these outdated and discriminatory views.’
Pointing out that ‘the whole community is being badly let down by these remarks from a public representative’ he added ‘The election on May 7 is an opportunity for people to make it clear to reject these offensive views and vote for progressive politics and equality.’

Gerry Adams speech sets out party’s position on key issues
In a major speech to party activists in Dublin this week, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams set out the party’s perspective on a number of key issues.
Referring to the centenary of the Easter Rising and the Proclamation, Mr Adams said the year ahead was a time for ‘renewal and planning’ and for building a rights-based, citizen-centred Republic.
He said the party were at the forefront of the fight for equality, notably ‘campaigning so strongly for a ‘Yes’ vote in the forthcoming marriage equality referendum’ which was ‘fundamentally about equality of citizenship.’
He also launched a sharp attack on government economic strategy, in the context of the economic statement, and addressed the growing IBRC scandal and the issues around Siteserve.
Speaking about the peace process and the failure of the government to fulfill its responsibilities as co-guarantor of the GFA, Mr Adams’ speech can be read in full here.

Sinn Fein by-election candidate will be ‘real voice’ for ordinary people
Sinn Féin’s candidate for the Carlow Kilkenny by-election, Kathleen Funchion, has said that her campaign is about providing a new voice for those people abandoned and ignored by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party.
Cllr Funchion was speaking at campaign rally with Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams TD and Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD.
She said the election was ‘about seizing an opportunity to provide real change and effective public representation’ and that her campaign ‘is about ordinary people. It is about providing a new voice for people who have been abandoned and ignore by those in power.’
She added ‘time and again, the people of this constituency have put their faith in the Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Labour Party and they have been re-paid with broken promises’. She said ‘ordinary people who are paying the price for the bank-debt and for the resulting austerity and cuts delivered by this government. Our communities and families are also still paying the price for years of reckless government administered by Fianna Fáil.’
She said the by-election ‘can be a watershed shed for the constituency of Carlow Kilkenny’. She urged A ‘fair recovery’, adding ‘Sinn Féin is the only party that has the political will and vision to make that happen.’

Week in Review is circulated by the Sinn Fein London office. Until May 7, you can reach us at irishunityconference@yahoo.com or follow the news on Twitter @sinnfeinireland or at www.sinnfein.ie.