Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
30 July – 05 August 2016

Gerry Adams calls for focus on September’s national forum/dialogue
Speaking on 2 August, in Dundalk, the Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD called on the Taoiseach to “use the summer break positively to prepare the ground now for the national forum/dialogue which he has committed to setting up in September in response to Britain’s Brexit vote.”
Mr Adams continued: “The Taoiseach should bring together elected representatives, North and South, during the summer break to begin the process of agreeing an agenda and format for September’s national forum/dialogue.”
The Sinn Féin leader rejected Arlene Foster’s dismissal of all Ireland talks on Brexit, saying: “if the DUP does not want to engage in such a dialogue that is a matter for them. However there is clearly a widespread opinion that recognises the importance of a co-ordinated response to the economic difficulties that are already emerging following the Brexit vote. There should be no vetoes over the development of an all-Ireland dialogue to meet the challenge of Brexit.”
Mr Adams concluded by saying: “A national dialogue forum/conference which brings together political parties, civic society, business and the voluntary and community sectors is needed to assess the impact of Brexit, minimise its impact on peoples lives, protect jobs and the economy of the island, and ensure that the vote of citizens in the North to remain in the EU is respected.”

Reconciliation is an imperative – Declan Kearney MLA
Sinn Féin MLA for South Antrim and Sinn Féin National Chairperson, Declan Kearney, has said that the time has passed when reconciliation within Irish society was optional.
Speaking at the “Healing, Honour and Hope: What next?” event in Duncairn Arts Centre as part of the Féile an Phobail programme Mr. Kearney said: “Huge suffering has taken place in Ireland, north and south, and that has extended to Britain. The divisions in our society which exist are visceral. The pain from past actions carried by our generation is very real. Instead of a few trying to develop the political and civic critical mass to support reconciliation and healing, we should be collectively accelerating its development as a new phase of the peace process.”
Mr Kearney continued: “In my view reconciliation is not an option in our society; it is an imperative. It must not be built upon resentment and recrimination.”
Addressing the issue of the legacy of conflict, Mr Kearney said: “The causes of division must be discussed. The legacy of the past cannot be avoided if we are to move forward to a new phase of the peace process. We all need to be prepared to deal with these issues by coming together privately and publicly to engage meaningfully, and not to score points.
Mr Kearney said that the mechanisms agreed under the Stormont House Fresh Start Agreement provide a vehicle for moving forward. He said that it was “unacceptable and wrong that the potential of this framework is being held back by the British Government’s veto on maximum information disclosure, and refusal to release the funds which would allow legacy investigations and inquests to proceed.”
Mr Kearney also cited Sinn Féin’s policy document on reconciliation and healing ‘Towards an Agreed and Reconciled Future’, noting: “We are absolutely committed to ensuring a process of reconciliation and healing is established. It is time for all political and governmental leaderships to step up to the mark. That should include active and unambiguous commitment from the leaderships of political unionism.”

Vision of 1916 remains relevant – Paul Maskey MP
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said the vision of Roger Casement remains as relevant today as it was in 1916.
Mr Maskey was speaking after a vigil was held outside Pentonville Prison to mark the 100th Anniversary of Roger Casement’s execution.
The West Belfast MP commented: “The vigil organised by the ‘London Easter 1916 Centenary Committee’ highlighted the continued relevance of the vision of Casement and the other men and women of 1916.”
Mr Maskey said that Roger Casement was a great republican and humanitarian and said how: “In his speech from the dock, Casement outlined the aim of republicanism, stating: ‘We aimed at uniting all Irishmen in a natural and national bond of cohesion based on mutual self-respect.’ This remains the republican vision today. Every day Sinn Féin is working to realise this New Ireland.”
Mr Maskey concluded: “The struggle goes on and it falls on us today to complete the work of 1916.”

Turkey’s reassurances on human rights worthless – Martina Anderson MEP
Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has branded Turkish assurances on the protection of the rights of refugees as “worthless and hollow” and urged the European Union to change its approach to the refugee crisis.
The Sinn Féin MEP was reacting to an answer given by the European Commission to a question asked by Sinn Féin MEPs and colleagues on the left in Europe.
Martina Anderson said: “The response of the European Commission to our question is alarming. When pressed on reports that Turkey are returning desperate refugees to war-torn Syria, the Commission simply states it has received written assurances from Turkey that this is not the case. Turkey’s assurances are worthless and hollow, they are not worth the paper they are written on. Events in recent days and weeks show categorically that Turkey is neither a safe country nor a good partner for the EU in dealing with the refugee crisis.”
Ms Anderson called the current Turkish regime “both brutal and authoritarian.”
Turning to Turkey’s treatment of its Kurdish citizens, Ms Anderson added “The state is at war with its own Kurdish citizens and President Erdogan has used the recent ‘coup’ to clamp down ruthlessly on perceived opponents. Tens of thousands of journalists, academics, soldiers and civil servants have been interned in what is reported to be terrible conditions.”
Martina Anderson said that the EU-Turkey deal needs to be immediately scrapped, saying: “The EU cannot shirk its responsibilities in this humanitarian crisis. If member states cooperated and did their fair share, this crisis could be resolved. A humanitarian crisis requires a humanitarian response.”

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