Paul Maskey MP – An Phoblacht News – 27th November

AS WE head towards the end of the year, what is clear from all of our MPs’ travails in London is that all thoughts in Westminster are on the May general election.

The closeness of the polls, which continue to just about put (British) Labour as the largest party, make for an atmosphere of uncertainty, especially with unknown factors such as UKIP to the right and the Greens to the left, and a rise in support for the SNP and pro-independence movement in Scotland.

What is certain is that every political decision or statement is being made with an eye to that narrow margin and possible alliances around who will form the next British Government.

The outcome of that will, of course, be a key factor in progressing the Irish Peace Process.

It’s been well-rehearsed that, over the last few years, this current Tory-led Government has not shone as an example of imaginative, bold leadership in terms of the political process.

Far from grasping the chance to really drive forward the Good Friday Agreement, and making it clear that unionist naysayers would not be allowed to dictate the pace, the opposite has been the order of the day.

The British Government’s mantra is that this is not their problem, that it is a matter for the parties in Ireland to decide. This is wholly disingenuous and false.

If the British Government really wanted to have nothing to do with things, they could call a Border poll and let the people decide. The truth is, far from absenting themselves, they are very much involved in allowing a unionist agenda to predominate.

They are very active in preventing the outstanding matters of the Good Friday Agreement from being taken forward and they are very engaged in accommodating unionist demands which fall outside the Good Friday Agreement framework.

So what should any future government do differently?

Like the situation in 1997, it took a change of government to actually break out of the logjam. That imaginative thinking contributed to achieving the Good Friday Agreement. Today, there are many things a British Government could actively do.

First, there are the key matters in the Agreement which have been reneged upon. These include an Irish Language Act, a Bill of Rights and crucial bodies such as the Civic Forum which could bring much-needed pro-change momentum from a range of groups, from business to trade unions.

The next British Government could work closely with the Irish Government (and the Assembly) to ensure the development an all-island Charter of Rights, create a North/South Consultative Forum aimed at civic societal engagement, and to review and strengthen the North-South implementation bodies.

As we face economic challenges North and South, greater co-operation across our island makes sense in both jurisdictions.

A strong alternative to the current austerity mantra would be to allow greater fiscal powers for the North, alongside this greater all-Ireland co-operation. Directing investment and attracting inward investment to stimulate growth, rather than the regressive drag of cuts, would be an attractive manifesto proposition which could prove hugely popular.

In the context of Scotland’s referendum, the merits of greater devolved powers are clearly on the table now. A future Westminster Government should clearly commit to this. The political engagement created by the Scottish independence referendum underlines the merits of committing to a Border poll in the not-too-distant future (as also envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement).

A future British Government could come out firmly in support of the Haass/O’Sullivan compromise proposals, in contrast to the failure to do so at the beginning of this year, as a framework for taking forward the issues of the past, flags and parades. And, of course, a proper independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane should also happen, as the British Labour Party have already committed to if returned to power.

And a future British Government should look at the East/West dimensions and particularly how to engage the Irish Diaspora across the country, who have a particular role to play in contributing to the process.

In the final analysis, any future government in Britain should make crystal clear it stands firmly with the pro-Agreement majority, where it should be, and pledge to proactively defend and extend the Peace Process and progressive change.

Sinn Fein

Sinn Féin MP Conor Murphy is to address a public meeting in London tonight at which he will encourage the cross party panel and the audience to defend the progress gained since the Good Friday Agreement (GFA).
Calling for pro-active support for the ongoing efforts in the all-party talks to resolve outstanding issues, Conor Murphy will tell those in attendance that everyone interested in the political process in Ireland has a part to play in defending the progress made to date and ensure that, the anti-Agreement unionist axis, does not succeed in frustrating resolution of these issues.

THE PANEL consists of: Conor Murphy MP, Sinn Fein; Lord Alf Dubs, former Labour NIO Minister; Lord John Alderdice, former Assembly speaker; Baroness Angela Smith, former Labour NIO Minister; SDLP speaker (TBC); Jennie McShannon, Chief Executive Irish in Britain and will be Chaired by Michelle Gildernew MP

By Jayne Fisher

First published via The Morning Star, Monday 24 November 2014

Despite appearances, the Northern Ireland peace process is far from resolved, writes Jayne Fisher

Cross-party talks in Belfast aimed at breaking the political impasse in the north of Ireland are entering their sixth week.
While many could be forgiven for not being aware of developments, given the absence of focus by the media and wider political commentators, it of crucial importance that progressives in Britain keep the issue of Ireland on the political agenda.
Indeed, the huge success of the peace process in recent years has left a general feeling that matters are resolved and that the overall absence of conflict means that solidarity and support are not required. But this is not the case.
There is in fact a pressing need to join forces to defend and build support for the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process.
There is also a need to unite in supporting those parties, trade unions and campaigns opposing the economic offensive by right-wing governments in Dublin and Westminster.

The achievement of the Good Friday Agreement, built on core principles of equality, parity of esteem and a recognition that a political level playing field was necessary, transformed the situation within Ireland and between Britain and Ireland.
Advancing the agreement, and subsequent agreements, meant challenging the entrenched and institutional sectarianism and discrimination, ending one-party unionist rule and replacing it with genuine power-sharing and many other areas of progressive change.

The resistance to that change has always been an issue but the past two years have seen an anti-agreement axis develop which has been allowed to dictate the pace of change.
The main parties of political unionism have been constantly looking over their shoulder to their rejectionist right, rather than showing clear leadership in taking the process forward.
And the British government has facilitated this through a lack of engagement and indeed acting in a wholly partisan way in essentially capitulating to unionist demands, such as disputes on Orange parades through nationalist areas.
This is an abdication of its responsibility, alongside the Irish government, as co-guarantor of the agreement.

Coupled with this, the Tory-Lib Dem coalition government has made a growing crisis worse by forcing its austerity measures on to a society already struggling as it emerges from conflict.
Rather than delivering the peace dividend, which was expected by the vast majority of people who support the peace process, the British government has slashed the block grant given to the northern Assembly executive year on year. It also wants to force through its devastating “welfare reform” cuts.

Sinn Fein and others have been vehemently opposing these austerity measures, arguing for united pressure from all parties for the government to reverse its position.
In the current talks Sinn Fein has emphasised the need for all parties to enter the discussions in a genuine spirit of wanting to resolve the issues.
This includes the difficult issues of dealing with the past, contested parades and flags.
Of course it has been the British government itself which has frustrated efforts to deal with the past, and the role of the British state in the conflict.
The refusal to hold a fully independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane epitomises this position.

Sinn Fein has also urged the implementation of the outstanding Good Friday issues, which includes the commitment to hold a referendum on Irish unity — a “border poll.”
Such a poll could have the potential to create a serious debate on Ireland’s future and what a new, united Ireland would look like.
A debate looking at a new united country based on social and economic equality could invigorate public interest and tie in very much with sentiment in the south, where support for a clear alternative to austerity and cuts is gaining ground — as the recent anti-water charge protests show.
Sinn Fein is leading in the polls at 26 per cent. Coupled with the political developments in the north and the need to break out of the current logjam, an all-Ireland alternative is clearly the way forward.

Meanwhile, as the current talks in the north continue, it is vital that a pro-agreement alliance makes itself felt.
International opinion is key to this — and importantly in Britain.
The vast majority of people, and the left and labour movement in particular, support the peace process. This fairly silent majority now has to make its voice heard, especially in the run-up to next May’s elections.
Treading water or acquiescing to those who want to block change cannot continue.
The next government could make a real difference to the process if it has the vision to grasp the opportunity to really drive forward to the next stage.
It may seem that matters are settled over the Good Friday Agreement, but support for it is needed now more than ever.

Sinn Fein is hosting a major public event on Tuesday November 24 to put the issues on the agenda. All are welcome to join the discussion. It is being held at 7.30pm in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons, London SW1A OAA. Speakers include Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy, former Labour minister Lord Alf Dubs, former Assembly speaker Lord John Alderdice, former Labour minister Baroness Angela Smith and Irish in Britain chief executive Jennie McShannon. It will be chaired by Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew.

Sinn Fein

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD said today the SDLP needed to wake up to the fact that negative anti-agreement unionism is forming electoral pacts in the run-up to next year’s Westminster elections.
Gerry Adams said:
“For the past two years the political process has been challenged by a negative anti-agreement unionist axis which is attempting to turn the clock back.
Progress on a whole range of outstanding issues from the Good Fridayand other agreements, including an Irish Language Act, has been blocked.
The SDLP’s refusal to consider a strategic approach to the next Westminster and Assembly elections by pro-agreement progressive parties ignores the reality that unionism is currently forming electoral pacts.
The unionist parties have quite clearly set out their objective in successive party conferences of taking seats at the expense of pro-agreement parties.
This would be a setback for the political process in the North. It would also add further momentum to the British government’s shift towards increasingly partisan support for negative unionism.
There is a clear need for more innovative and forward-looking politics which can effectively counter the unionist anti-Agreement axis and the SDLP should be playing a role in that.”

Sinn Fein is hosting a public meeting titled `Why we need to build support for the Good Friday Agreement’ next Tuesday 25 November, 7.30pm in the Boothroyd room, Portcullis House. Speakers include Conor Murphy MP, 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.

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

Sinn Fein

Newry Armagh MP Conor Murphy has said comments by DUP leader Peter Robinson on Sinn Féin are patently incorrect and pitched at the party faithful on the eve of a deeply divided conference.
Conor Murphy was responding to comments by the DUP leader on the state of play in the all-party talks.
Conor Murphy said:
“Peter Robinson’s assertion that there are divisions in the Sinn Féin leadership is clearly another piece of wishful unionist thinking.
Sinn Féin decides on party policy collectively and we continue to do so. That’s the approach we take on all policy matters including our submissions to any talks process.
Sinn Féin is prepared to discuss all issues including reducing the costs of the Assembly and departments.
However there is no agreement and no growing consensus on these issues.
Any agreement on these issues is interlinked with other areas of the negotiations particularly the North South implementation bodies, which if agreed could reduce duplication of services on the island and provide greater efficiencies and savings.
All this and the toxic issues of flags, parading and the legacy of the past need to be fully explored.”

Sinn Fein

Sinn Féin MLA Martin McGuinness has described comments by British prime minister David Cameron on Tory cuts to the Executive budget as disingenuous and an effort to evade his responsibilities.
Martin McGuinness said:
“The pressures on the Executive’s budget are a direct result of year-on-year cuts to the block grant by David Cameron’s government.
David Cameron is clearly trying to evade responsibility for the damage his government has done to the political process here and to public services.
The British government has created the financial pressures on the Executive’s budget, only they can remove them.”

Sinn Fein

Sinn Féin MP Conor Murphy said tonight that the NIO paper leaked to the BBC is a piece of pro-unionist wishful thinking.
Conor Murphy said:
“The NIO paper does not reflect or, in any way, represent the Sinn Fein position in relation to the Assembly or the numbers of departments.
These are issues for the negotiations in tandem with a range of other matters of equal, if not greater significance.
If there is any growing consensus on this issue it certainly does not involve Sinn Fein.
In reality this leaked paper represents pro-unionist wishful thinking within the NIO.
Its publication is damaging and smacks of unhelpful game-playing when we need real and responsible engagement to reach a comprehensive, balanced and inclusive agreement.”

Sinn Fein

Sinn Féin’s newly appointed Spokesperson on the Diaspora Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has called on 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 Ó 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.
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 favours a reserved Dáil constituency for citizens in the north and the diaspora. This would allow the government to deal with voting rights with limited disruption to the current electoral system.
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.
Minister Kelly needs to tell us what his intentions are and if he has submitted a paper to Cabinet on voting rights for the diaspora.”