Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
28 October – 04 November 2015

Sinn Fein MPs urge London meeting: `work with us to defend the Agreement’
Sinn Fein MPs Paul Maskey and Mickey Brady told a packed House of Commons public meeting that Sinn Fein were fully committed to working towards agreement during the current crucial talks at Stormont. The meeting took place as talks intensified.
From the Chair Jayne Fisher welcomed the broad attendance, including MPs, the Irish community, the trade unions, a number of Embassies and many others, and underlined the need for people to keep the issue of the peace process on the political agenda in Westminster, and more broadly in England, Scotland and Wales.
Mickey Brady urged people to `support what we’re doing and defend the Good Friday Agreement’. He said that a return to direct rule would be disastrous, pointing to a number of gains which had been defended by Sinn Fein and others under devolution, including `free travel for the over 60s, no prescription charges, lower tuition fees, and holding off the worst excesses of the Tory welfare reform cuts. All of this would go if there was direct rule.’
In terms of the economy he said that the Good Friday Agreement had `created a society which is more stable and is attracting more jobs in the North’ and that had to be defended and progressed. He said the north had specific circumstances: `We have higher rates of deprivation and poverty. We are not a post-conflict society. We are a society coming out of conflict – which is an important distinction’. He said Tory cuts were threatening the institutions and stability. On the threatened tax credit cuts, some 120,000 families `will be affected by the proposed cuts – we have to fight this’.
West Belfast MP Paul Maskey raised concerns over the British government’s plans for legislation to deal with the past. He said it was `important to remember that there is hurt on all sides. There can be no hierarchy of victims.’ He also raised the case of the Ballymurphy massacre and the recent bullet found in the case of Joseph Murphy. On the current talks he reiterated Sinn Fein’s approach – which was to work to get an agreement on these issues across the parties.
He underlined the need for people to `do all you can, don’t let any government take its eye off the peace process’. He said there were many issues remaining in the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements which had not been carried out, including the Bill of Rights, which he said the British government `must implement’. On current Tory threats to the Human Rights Act, he said Sinn Fein was `is in favour of defending the Human rights Act’ and had `extensively lobbied for that’.
However on progress towards reconciliation and change he said he was `hopeful’, pointing out that `50 per cent of people coming into my constituency office on the Falls road are from the Shankill’.
On austerity, Paul Maskey said that the Tories `were forced to climb down on tax credits’ due to opposition. He said that in relation to the cuts and budget issues for the North, `we need to go as five parties to also force the Tories to climb down’.
In relation to equality, both speakers reiterated the centrality of fighting for equality. On the recent vote on marriage equality Paul Maskey said it was a big step forward that `the majority of Assembly members voted for it’. However, he said that the DUP use of the petition of concern, something designed to protect minorities, was being misused to block a measure to ensure equality for a minority.
Labour’s Vernon Coaker, speaking from the floor, told the meeting that Labour would `continue to fight austerity’.

Sinn Fein MPs support trade union Westminster lobby supporting Good Friday Agreement
Earlier on 4 November Sinn Fein MPs Mickey Brady and Paul Maskey attended a Westminster lobby meeting organised by the North of Ireland committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).
The Lobby, hosted by Lord John Monks, raised concerns about the impact of austerity on the peace process and the political instutitions, and the failure to progress the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, including on crucial matters such as the Bill of Rights.
Circulating a briefing paper `Why Northern Ireland is Different’, the unions presented a strong argument underlining the particular circumstances of the north of Ireland in terms of economic deprivation and social problems, and the devastating impact of Tory cuts on a people coming out of conflict.
Paul Maskey said Sinn Fein were pleased to support the meeting and echoed the concerns at the effects of Tory economic policy. He said it was vital that all the parties supported the implementation of measures in the Agreement – such as equality measures – as Sinn Fein would continue to do.

British government legislation `in breach of agreement’
On 3 November Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams urged the Taoiseach to stop `prioritise his engagement with the British Prime Minister with the objective of stabilising and sustaining the political institutions set up under the Good Friday Agreement’.
The Sinn Féin leader was speaking in the Dáil during ‘Statements on the North.’ He made strong criticism of the British government and of MI5, `and the old guard of the RUC’, who produced the recent report on para militarism and their efforts to thwart effective legacy legislation being introduced for victims.
Deputy Adams said `The very people – in MI5 and in the old guard of the RUC – who produced the recent report, have also brought in a veto to stop the families of victims of British terrorism from getting the truth about what happened to their loved ones.’
He said `These are the same people who directed agents and informers and paramilitary organisations that killed hundreds of citizens, including citizens in this city with the Dublin-Monaghan bombs and stirred sectarian violence and colluded in murder.’
`They are prepared to put the peace and political processes at risk in an effort to stop the growth of Sinn Féin north and south. These are the people some in this Dáil choose to believe; probably for the same reason. The Fianna Fáil leader does not believe the Garda Commissioner. But he does believe MI5.
`MI5, some in the PSNI, and the British government, have also attempted to use the new legacy legislation to elevate British interests above those of the victims and their families. Victims’ groups are seriously concerned about the British government attempting to roll back from commitments on dealing with the legacy of the past.
`The British and Irish governments agreed at Stormont House on the need to provide justice and truth recovery mechanisms that would give disclosure to families of victims of the conflict.
`The British government’s legislation is in clear breach of that Agreement. This legislation is all about hiding the British state’s role as a central player in the conflict and its collusion with unionist paramilitary death squads. That is unacceptable.”
The Sinn Féin leader said it was `the responsibility of the Irish government and of the parties in this Dáil should be to support the efforts to make progress – not to place narrow self-serving party political objectives above the necessary process of change and progress’.
“The said the Irish Government needed to `play a more active and constructive role in the North. Citizens in this State expect the Government to be proactively pursuing and promoting the peace process.’ He said he had “urged the Taoiseach many times, to prioritise his engagement with the British Prime Minister with the objective of stabilising and sustaining the political institutions set up under the Good Friday Agreement.’
Speaking about the current negotiations, Gerry Adams said the British Government `must accept its role as a participant in the conflict. British political and economic policy towards the North also has to change.’ He said `Political stability, commitment to proper power sharing, and securing a sustainable, workable budget are central to the negotiations.’
He added, `Led by Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin is engaged positively in the current talks. We are dealing with all of the difficult issues. The business of making peace is challenging and the business of societal change is challenging, but that is Sinn Féin’s priority.
He concluded: `In the short time available, we need to see a return to the vision, energy and inspiration that was evident at time of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations. In short, we need to usher in a new phase of the peace process.’

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

Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
23-30 October 2015

Talks `intensify’ – Sinn Fein MPs host London public meeting
This week Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said that talks aimed at resolving the current difficulties were `intensifying’, and that, with good will on all sides, agreement was `achievable’.
Speaking to the media at Stormont, Mr McGuinness said there were `big challenges ahead’ adding `with a good will on all sides [agreement] is achievable and that’s what we in Sinn Fein are working for. He also said, in terms of timeframe `we are talking more about days than weeks.’
Meanwhile Sinn Fein MPs were in Westminster to brief MPs and others on current developments, including concerns over the effects of the Conservative government’s plans for further cuts, including the negative effects of the tax credit cuts. They also alerted MPs and peers across the political spectrum of concerns over British government’s attempts to roll back on commitments made to deal with the past (see Gerry Kelly statement below).
Sinn Fein MP for West Tyrone, Pat Doherty, met political representatives across the spectrum on 27-28 October.
Next week Sinn Fein MPs Paul Maskey and Mickey Brady will host a public meeting to discuss the current situation and raise awareness among the wider Irish community, the trade union movement as well as MPs.
The meeting takes place on Tuesday 3 November, 7.30pm, Grimond Room of Portcullis House, House of Commons, SW1A OAA (nearest tube Westminster, public entrance on Victoria Embankment). Further information: Jayne.fisher@parliament.uk. ALL WELCOME

Serious concerns over British Government’s dealing with the past
On 29 October Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly has said relatives and victims’ groups were `seriously concerned at the British government’s attempts to roll back on commitments made on dealing with the past’.
Mr Kelly said that he had met representatives of a number of victims’ groups `many of these people have been campaigning for truth for decades’. He said they were `anxious and upset after meeting a representative of the British government to discuss the progress of legislation on dealing with the legacy of the past’.
He said that the British and Irish governments had agreed at Stormont House on the need to provide justice and truth recovery mechanisms that would give disclosure to families of victims of the conflict. But, he warned that the British government’s legislation on dealing with the legacy of the past was `in clear breach of that Agreement’.
Legislation being proposed by Theresa Villiers was `unacceptable’ as it was `about hiding the British state’s role as a central player in the conflict and its collusion with unionist death squads’.
He concluded that `all measures to deal with the past, including any legislation, must reflect the commitments made at Stormont House by the parties and the two governments.’
Earlier on 21 November, Sinn Fein MP Francie Molloy attended a briefing meeting with a number of groups, including CAJ and Amnesty International, in the British House of Lords, hosted by Lord Dubs and attended by Labour Shadow Spokesperson Vernon Coaker among others. The meeting echoed concerns over the legislation. Mr Molloy said it was `vital’ to get the legislation right, in line with agreements.

Martin McGuinness at Unite economic policy launch:
`Tory austerity must be challenged at every opportunity’
On 28 October Sinn Féin MLA Martin McGuinness addressed the launch of Unite the Union’s economic strategy at Stormont, alongside Sinn Fein MPs Paul Maskey, Francie Molloy and Mickey Brady. He said today that Tory austerity `must be challenged at every opportunity’.
He said `we cannot stand aside and passively accept the swingeing cuts being pursued by a Conservative government wedded to an austerity agenda. The Tories may have been dealt a major blow this week after the House of Lords voted to delay tax credit cuts and to compensate those affected in full. But George Osborne’s assault on the welfare system and the most vulnerable people in society isn’t over. He will be back because this is a matter of ideology for the Tories.
He added `This arrogance must be confronted and challenged at every opportunity. These challenges are best faced by working together and I welcome the proposals put forward by Unite.
He concluded; `It is time for everyone across civic society to join together to challenge Tory austerity in order to protect the least well off in our communities.’
Elsewhere Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy said Mike Nesbitt’s UUP were `still wedded to the cuts agenda of the British Tory Party’ after British Lords closely associated with the Ulster Unionist Party sided with Tory plans to cut tax credits.
He added, `While growing numbers of people across a wide spectrum of society are opposing Tory austerity policies the UUP is standing shoulder to shoulder with David Cameron’s cabinet of millionaires in its efforts to drive thousands of local people, including children, deeper into poverty.’

Maskey welcomes `significant step forward’ for Ballymurphy justice campaign
On 27 October Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey said the discovery of a bullet in the body of Joseph Murphy, one of those killed in the Ballymurphy Massacre of August 1971, was `a significant step forward in the families’ campaign for justice.’
He said the families `have been campaigning for many years and hopefully the British Government now do the honourable thing and grant them their inquiry’. He concluded `this is a very emotional time for the family but they have been very determined in their pursuit of truth and justice.’

A united Ireland would create a better society for everyone
On 30 October Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy, speaking at a major united Ireland conference in Belfast, said a united Ireland `would create a better society for everyone on the island’.
Speaking at a major United Ireland conference in Belfast, Mr Carthy said;
He said British control of the northern economy was `failing the people of the north’ and that there was `a better solution for the north of Ireland than British austerity politics’.
He said Sinn Féin were aware that `serious work is to be done to deliver a United Ireland and we are up for the challenge’, adding `Sinn Féin in government north and south will implement a strategy to promote and achieve the democratic objectives of national self-determination, reconciliation and unity and ensure all the people of Ireland have the right to vote in a referendum on Irish Unity.’
He said Sinn Fein would `drive forward an open and inclusive National Conversation on Irish Unity’ to `involve the people of Ireland north and south, including all of the social partners, which constitute civil society.’
He said the party would publish a Green Paper on Irish Unity to `identify steps and measures for a successful transition to a united Ireland including planning for a new state and a new society that all the people of Ireland can share.’

Society must do more to achieve greater women’s representation
On 30 October Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada urged greater action to increase women’s representation in government.
Speaking after a meeting of the Countess Markievicz Circle of Women for Election in Brussels, Ms Ní Riada said,
`The fact that in 2015, almost 100 years after the election of Ireland’s first female Member of Parliament, there are currently only 27 female TDs and 23 female MLAs is astounding. Women make up 51% of the Irish population and to think that we are not equally represented at cabinet level is inexcusable.
She added `It is important that we change attitudes and remove glass ceilings so we encourage more young women into politics. A diversity of voices in politics would lead to more robust decisions and help create a fairer, more inclusive society.
She said that `decisions and policies drawn up at all levels have a direct impact on women right across the country and they need to be front and centre in all areas, from local government to National government.’
She concluded, `While Sinn Féin has been progressive in promoting women in politics and almost 28% of our representatives of our MLAs, TDs and MEPs are female, we are well aware that more can be done and other parties should be recognising the importance of this.’

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

Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
15-22 October 2015

Sinn Fein committed to peace and political process
On 20 October Sinn Féin MLA Martin McGuinness made a statement where he asserted that `our society is on a journey from conflict to peace and we all need to work to complete that journey so that violence becomes a thing of the past’.
Mr McGuinness said that the murders of Jock Davison and Kevin McGuigan were `personal tragedies for the families involved and we should be mindful of their grief’.
He said it was `a matter of historical fact that the IRA instructed its members in 2005 “to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means’ and ‘not engage in any other activities whatsoever”’ adding that it was clear the IRA leadership has successfully delivered on this transition from conflict to peace’,
He said `Let me be absolutely clear and unequivocal. Sinn Féin is now the only organisation involved in the Republican struggle and in Republican activism. Republicans who support the Good Friday Agreement support the political institutions, support the peace process and don’t represent a threat to anyone in the community.’
He said that there were, of course `enormous and urgent issues to be dealt with around the existence of armed groups, paramilitaries and criminality’ and that `we all have a responsibility to deal with these issues to tackle criminality and bring para militarism to an end and Sinn Féin will play a full part in this important work’.
He concluded: `We now need to get on with the pressing issues facing the community and the economy; Tory cuts to essential public services and attacks on working families and those on welfare and dealing with the legacy of the past. We will work positively and constructively with all the political parties and the two governments to achieve all of this.’

* Sinn Fein Westminster Briefing meetings with Sinn Fein MPs:
Defend the Agreement – Equality not Austerity
Tuesday 3 November 7:30pm Grimond Room Portcullis House.
Speakers: Paul Maskey MP, Mickey Brady MP.
All welcome jayne.fisher@parliament.uk

Sinn Fein `will engage positively at Stormont talks’
On 21 October Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD speaking in the Dáil reiterated the message that Sinn Féin was `engaging in the current talks positively with the objective of creating a real future for all citizens based on equality.’
He said Sinn Féin was `totally and absolutely opposed to all criminality’ and that `like other parties here is accountable to the electorate… We are not accountable to any other group or organisation.’
He went on to criticise the Fianna Fáil leader’s `idiotic call’ for the suspension of the political institutions. Mr Adams said that `the basis for the very welcome recommencement of talks today is the publication of a report by the British government, alongside one from the Garda Commissioner’.
He went on to say that `some elements of these reports have been seized upon by opponents of Sinn Féin’. Dealing with aspects of this, he said `Sinn Féin is totally and absolutely opposed to all criminality. We stand with communities and the police services on both parts of this island. Our party has paid a price for that. I and other Sinn Féin leaders are under active death threats. My home is regularly targeted with bomb alerts.’
He said that other party members `have had their homes and property attacked and one young man, Frank McCabe junior, was blinded in one eye because of his family’s stand against criminality. So this is not an academic exercise for us or a point scoring electorally driven contest. We put our lives on the line against those who are engaging in criminality.’
Secondly, he added `Sinn Féin like other parties here is accountable to the electorate. Our leadership – the Ard Chomhairle – is democratically elected annually at our Ard Fheis. We are not accountable to any other group or organisation.’
He said the `business of making peace and implementing a process of societal change is challenging. But that is the priority for Sinn Féin alongside our efforts to present a genuine republican alternative to austerity and building support for a united Ireland.’
He added that `Led by Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin is engaging in the current talks positively. We will deal with all issues with the objective of creating a real future for all citizens based on equality.’

Inquiries into state role in killings ‘hugely significant’
Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Raymond McCartney has said that the announcement of two new inquiries into the activity of the British state agent Stakeknife and MI5 and the British secret service was `hugely significant’.
The Sinn Fein MLA said the decision by the Director of the PPS to request the new investigations followed information being provided to him by the Police Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire.
Sinn Féin had, he said `consistently highlighted the fact that British intelligence and RUC Special Branch personnel colluded with agents to commit murder with impunity’. He said the role of agents in killings `has also been systemically covered up by the British state’.
He said `the families of the victims of Stakeknife and his British military and Special Branch handlers who continue to protect him have a right to know what occurred and deserve the truth into the killings of their loved ones’, adding `Sinn Féin will continue to support the search for truth by these families.’
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard welcomed the decision by the family of Pat Finucane to appeal a decision that British Prime Minister David Cameron acted lawfully in refusing to hold a public inquiry into his killing.
Mr Hazzard said the British Government had `failed to live up to its responsiblities’ to hold a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, which was agreed at the Weston Park negotiations in 2001.
He said it was `well established that British state forces colluded with the Unionist death squad which carried out the killing of the human rights lawyer’, and praised the Finucane family who had `once again shown fortitude and dignity in bringing this case back to the courts.’

True nature of unequal budget emerging
On 15 October Sinn Féin’s Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD said research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and Social Justice Ireland has brought to light `the true regressive and unequal nature of the Budget’ recently announced. Deputy Doherty was responding to the analysis carried out by the organisations which showed that the better off had, once again, gained most from the budget.
Deputy Doherty said the budged `unambiguously favoured the wealthiest in society’ and that the ESRI analysis `highlights how the lowest 20% of our population comes out worst of any group in the Budget’.
He added, `the real winners were the highest earners who in real and relative terms will now be wealthier than the rest of society than they were the day before budget day. That is the true nature of Budget 2016 and it is no accident. It is by design and by policy that the more you have the more you get under Fine Gael and Labour. They have shown themselves incapable of bringing about a fair recovery.’
He said that in percentage terms, `the top earners are among the winners but the fact that this is magnified so much in real terms just shows how unequal the starting point was. The last Budget of the government, like every one before it, widened the gap between rich and poor.’
He concluded that despite the government spin, `the actual middle earners in our society, those earning around €28,500, benefit little from the budget. Only two days after Budget day and the fog is clearing to reveal the true nature of budget 2016. The picture is of more of the same and top earners moving further away from the majority of hard working families and of the emergence of an unequal and unfair recovery.’

Passage of equal marriage bill `truly historic day’
Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh has described the passing of the bill giving gay people equal rights to marriage as `truly historic’. Speaking after the Marriage Bill 2015 had passed in the Seanad, Senator Ó Clochartaigh congratulated `all the gay rights activists who struggled for years, often against huge odds, for today to become a reality’.
Sinn Féin `salutes their courage, bravery and tenacity’, he said, adding`this is a good day for the people of Ireland and for the larger equality project.’
He said `as a society, we have a long way to go before we achieve equality of access to life chances for all our people’, and that the Marriage Equality campaign had shown `if we organise around broad based progressive social movements, then change is possible’.
He concluded: `while today belongs to the gay and lesbian community and to their families and supporters, there is an onus on all going forward to work together to dismantle other structures of discrimination, especially the anti-Traveller racism that is so pervasive across all areas of Irish political and social life.’

Adams urges action in support of travellers
On 22 October Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD attended the funeral mass at Sandyford for Thomas and Sylvia Connors and their three children Jim, Christy, and baby Mary, who were killed in the Carrickmines Fire.
Gerry Adams said that the `failure to reach a satisfactory outcome over a proposed temporary halting site at Rockville Drive for the bereaved Traveller families is deeply disappointing.’
He said the decision to provide the families with a site `that is inadequate for their needs and which lacks basic amenities is an indictment of this and successive governments and their inaction in providing for the needs of the Traveller community.Travellers are citizens’, adding `they have rights. Those rights are being denied to them’.
He said that he had urged the Taoiseach in the Dail `to directly intervene in the Traveller issue and to ‘establish as a matter of urgency a state-wide forum involving Travellers, political parties, Government, local authorities, health and education sectors and media organisations to make recommendations on how this major issue of inequality facing our society can be addressed.’
He said that the Taoiseach had refused claiming that existing structures are sufficient.
He added, `They are patently not as is evident in the statistics available on discrimination in housing and employment, health and poverty. At the root of all these problems is a deep rooted prejudice that must be tackled. This requires a sea change in public policy and government and local government attitudes.’
He concluded by supporting the call by Pavee Point `for a dedicated Traveller Agency to co-ordinate and where appropriate enforce government policy affecting Travellers’ and also urged the government `to implement the recommendations of the April 2014 report on Traveller Ethnicity by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality. In particular the government should formally recognise the distinct ethnicity of the Traveller community.’

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

Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
01 – 08 October 2015

British legislation on legacy `a breach of the Agreement’
On 7 October Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly warned that British government proposals to deal with the legacy of the past were `unacceptable and a clear breach of the Stormont House Agreement’.
He said the British government needed to do more to resolve the difficulties it has created for the political process: `All the parties at Stormont House agreed on the need to provide justice and truth recovery mechanisms for the families of victims of the conflict. The British government’s legislation on dealing with the legacy of the past is in clear breach of the Stormont House Agreement’.
He said the legislation being proposed by Theresa Villiers and her colleagues in the British government was `about hiding the British state’s role as a central player in the conflict and its collusion with unionist death squads’.
He said it was `unacceptable’ and that the British government had `created many of the difficulties currently faced by the Executive and they must step up to the plate in working with others in finding resolutions.’

Kearney welcomes European Trade Union Confederation motion on North
Speaking on 5 October Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney welcomed the European Trade Union Confederation decision to pass an emergency motion at its Congress in Paris registering deep concern about the deepening political crisis in the North.
The ETUC represents over 60 million workers and Trade Union Congresses across Europe. The mostion also called for political stability supported by an economic and financial stimulus package in the north.
Declan Kearney said the ICTU and the ETUC initiative was the kind of `positive interventions by the international community [which] are urgently required in response to the deteriorating political situation’. He said the international labour movement could now `build on this effort and maximise the positive influence it can exert in Ireland, Britain, Europe and the US’.
Mr Kearney held a series of detailed briefings with European political parties on the crisis, including from Greece, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and the Basque Country.

Sinn Fein delegations press British party conferences over need to defend the Good Friday Agreement and British government role
Recent weeks saw a number of Sinn Fein representatives attend British party conference. Paul Maskey MP, Jennifer McCann MLA and Francie Molloy attended the Labour conference in Brighton, where a packed Sinn Fein fringe meeting discussed the need to defend the Good Friday Agreement – Equality not Austerity. Labour Shadow Secretary of State joined the panel discussion and asserted Labour’s position that the Good Friday Agreement had to be implemented. A statement from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, reiterating Labour’s strong commitment to the peace process was also read out at the meeting, chaired by Mirror Associate Editor Kevin Maguire.
Paul Maskey said: `the British government need to accept they have created the current political difficulties with their austerity cuts agenda. They cannot evade that responsibility and present themselves as some sort of honest broker between the parties. They are clearly a player in this process.’
Jennifer McCann also warned of the dire effects of Tory austerity which `remains the biggest threat to the political institutions’. She urged `a united voice from all political parties and wider civic society challenging that agenda.’
Elsewhere Sinn Fein MP Francie Molloy MP addressed the Champ Breakfast event, warning of the dangers for Ireland north and south of a British exit from the EU. A similar theme was picked up at both Conservative and Lib Dem conference events, which were also addressed by Sinn Fein MPs Pat Doherty and Mickey Brady respectively.

DUP ministers should stop playing musical chairs and return to work
On 6 October Sinn Féin health spokesperson Rosie McCorley MLA said today that DUP ministers should `stop playing musical chairs and return to work on behalf of all the people of the community’.
Rosie McCorley said `we need ministers to be in their posts every day, doing their jobs and working for the entire community’ adding, `the public expect, and are entitled to see, ministers doing the jobs they are supposed to be doing’.
She said the DUP’s position was becoming `more farcical by the day when one minister can come into the Assembly to answer questions on financial matters but the health minister failed to turn up to discuss cancer waiting times’.
She concluded `DUP ministers need to stop playing musical chairs and return to their jobs immediately.’

British withdrawal from EU would undermine all-Ireland economy
Last week Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney said a British withdrawal from the European Union would have `negative implications’ for Ireland, north and south.
Speaking to MEPs at a GUE/NGL study visit in Carrickmacross, Mr Kearney said
`A full or even partial British withdrawal would represent a setback for political and economic progress and the process of democratic transformation in the north.
He said it would `lead to the prospect of reinforced partition with the potential for customs checkpoints, trading tariffs, and adverse knock-on effects for all-island economic activity and cooperation.’
He added there could be the loss of Common Agriculture & Fisheries Policy payments to those in the agri-economy alongside the loss of EU structural funding which has been central to small, medium enterprise development, community regeneration and government programmes.
He said a British exit` would negatively affect local business, and the potential for growing the private sector and promoting enterprise and growth. This would undermine the north as a region attractive to foreign investment and as a gateway point for US investors and investment to mainland Europe itself.’
He concluded: `Sinn Féin will oppose any attempts by the British government to withdraw from Europe or make its relationship more conditional.’

Adams visits Cuba
At the beginning of October Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD was in Cuba on an official visit.
In the course of the visit he met Cuban Vice President Salvador Antonio Valdés Mesa, and a range of senior Ministers in the government and leaders in the National Assembly.
Gerry Adams said Sinn Féin had had fraternal ties with Cuba for many years and there was `a close connection between the Irish people and the people of Cuba’.
He said he had last visited Havana 14 years ago and was `keen to return to discuss the dramatic and historic diplomatic and political developments that are occurring in US – Cuban relationships’.
Sinn Féin, he said had `long opposed the embargo imposed by the US for the last five decades’ adding `its economic, cultural and human cost on the people of Cuba has been enormous’.
He said the interests of Latin America and especially of Cuba and the US were `best served by an end to the embargo and the creation of a new relationship based on mutual respect and equality’. He said `as we have learned in the Irish peace process, and in our own experience of conflict resolution, the exclusion and demonising of opponents never works and doesn’t solve problems.’
He said Sinn Féin believed in dialogue `as the best means of resolving disputes between individuals, peoples and states’, adding `for it to be successful it requires vision and leadership and a willingness to take risks for peace and for progress’.
He said the recent rapprochement in relations between the USA and Cuba `opens up the possibility of an end to the embargo. The relaxation of some aspects of it is already assisting the Cuban economy, particularly in respect of tourism. But the embargo must go in its entirety’.
`Leadership demands a preparedness to see opportunity where before there was none; and then to have the courage to take the next step and make it happen. It’s about seizing the moment. It’s about refusing to be defined by the past and to be willing to be open to new ideas, new concepts and the possibility of making friends with former enemies.
`Key to the progress we have witnessed thus far has been the leadership demonstrated by President Raul Castro and by President Obama. The positive and supportive efforts and encouragement of Pope Francis has also been important.
He concluded by commending President Castro and President Obama and `Cuba’s role in facilitating the Colombian peace process’.
`These developments are creating a new positive dynamic in the relationships of these neighbours and a beacon of hope and reconciliation in difficult times.’

Sinn Féin affirms solidarity with Palestinian people as flag finally flies at UN
On 30 September, Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin TD and Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, expressed his solidarity for the Palestinian people on a day when the flag of Palestine flew over government buildings to mirror the flag being raised over the United Nations in New York.
Deputy Crowe made the point however that Sinn Féin tabled a Dáil Private Members Motion in December 2014 demanding recognition of the Palestinian State which was supported unanimously by the Dáil, but which the Government has yet to deliver upon.
Deputy Crowe said `I wish to extend Sinn Féin’s, the Irish people’s, and my own solidarity for the Palestinian people on a day when the flag of Palestine is raised above Irish Government Buildings, the United Nations, and parliaments across the world. An overwhelming majority of the member states of the UN backed a hugely symbolic motion to fly the flag of Palestine at the UN.
He added `General recognition of Palestinian statehood should now follow. We will continue to call on all member states to recognise Palestinian statehood to give further support to the Palestinian people and assist the peace process in the region.
He concluded: `I regret however that Sinn Féin tabled a Dáil Private Members Motion in December 2014 calling for recognition of the Palestinian State which was supported unanimously by the Dáil, but which the Government has yet to deliver upon. The government should take this momentous occasion as an opportunity to take the next step and recognise the Palestinian people’s right to stand shoulder to shoulder with the other countries of the world.’

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Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
28 August -04 September 2015

Leadership required in talks process
Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness has welcomed the announcement of talks by the British and Irish governments to resolve the current difficulties facing the political process.
The deputy First Minister said that: “Sinn Féin has always been willing to engage in talks to tackle the difficult issues and to advance the peace and political processes. We have been calling over several months now for the parties and the two governments to get around the table to work together on finding a resolution to the real difficulties facing the political process.”
Mr McGuinness stated: “Sinn Féin will enter these talks on our electoral mandate and our commitment to democracy and peace which is clearly demonstrated by our track record. I have stood with Chief Constables and the leader of the DUP condemning the actions of those who would try to drag us back to the past. I have challenged criminality and threats to the peace and political processes no matter what quarter it originates from and will continue to do so. Others now need to show that same leadership to oppose all efforts to undermine the peace and political processes”
He concluded by saying: “We want to achieve the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and on the issues of welfare protections, parading and identity and to address the legacy of all groups who were party to the conflict including state forces. We have also been clear that the biggest threat to the stability of the political institutions remains the ongoing Tory austerity cuts to the Executive’s budget which is impacting on our ability to deliver frontline public services. What is required now from everyone involved in these talks is leadership, including the British and Irish governments.”

We will not be deflected from tackling real issues
Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has said that Sinn Féin won’t be deflected by the electoral battle currently raging between the unionist parties from the work to tackle the real issues of defending public services and the economy. The Newry Armagh MLA said that the days of exclusion and discrimination are over.
Conor Murphy said: “Sinn Féin has an electoral mandate to deliver real change across Ireland. That mandate will not be wished away by our political opponents who are cynically using the appalling murders of Jock Davison and Kevin McGuigan by armed criminals to create a political crisis fuelled by electoral considerations north and south.”
He highlighted that 178,000 people voted for Sinn Fein in the last Assembly elections and those people could not be “excluded or discriminated against. Those days are over.”
He reiterated that: “Sinn Féin has a record of leadership in the peace and political processes. We have consistently faced down all those who have attempted to drag this society back to the past and we will continue to do so, no matter where that threat emanates from.
He called on Unionist politicians to “end the sham fight” and “get on with the work on the real issues of defending our public services and the welfare state from the biggest Tory cuts in a lifetime.”

* Sinn Fein MPs Francie Molloy and Pat Doherty will be in London on Tuesday and Wednesday to brief MPs and others on the current situation in the north.

We have a responsibility to do more on refugee crisis – Martin McGuinness
The deputy First Minister and Sinn Féin MLA Martin McGuinness has made a direct plea to the British Prime Minister David Cameron to accept more refugees from Syria and the Middle East.
Mr McGuinness commented: “The world has been shocked by the harrowing images which have been beamed across the globe in recent days and we all have a responsibility to do everything in our power to alleviate this growing humanitarian crisis.”
Mr McGuinness said that he has spoken with David Cameron and made a direct appeal to him to permit entry to more refugees and enable regions such the north of Ireland to welcome these people.
Mr McGuinness said: “I have no doubt the people of the North – and indeed Scotland and Wales – would gladly welcome any moves to allow more refugees to come here. My Department has already been exploring the feasibility of how we can do that. In fact, Junior Minister Jennifer McCann raised the issue at the Joint Ministerial Committee in June where there was a clear view from the devolved regions that more needs to be done to assist the refugees. And while there may be the possibility of taking unilateral steps, the most effective way of taking action would require the cooperation of the British Government.”
He concluded by said that David Cameron was “open to such a discussion with the Executive and I intend to follow that up with the First Minister and the administrations in Scotland and Wales.”

There is nothing more Sinn Féin can do – Gerry Adams TD
The following is Gerry Adams TD’s recent column in the Andersonstown News, The Week in Review reproduces the text in full below:

A media storm erupted last week after a press conference was held by the PSNI about the murder of Kevin McGuigan. Kevin McGuigan was shot dead after media speculation had linked him to the killing of Jock Davison last May in the Markets area.
At the press conference Det Supt Kevin Geddes for the PSNI said that; “Action Against Drugs as you may be aware made a public statement on 6 August that they would execute anybody who had any involvement or they believed had any involvement in the murder of Jock Davison”. He went on to say that it was his assessment that; “Action Against Drugs are a group of individuals who are criminals, violent dissident republicans and former members of the Provisional IRA…They are dangerous, they are involved in violence and extortion of the nationalist and republican communities and they have a criminal agenda…My assessment is that this is a separate group from the Provisional IRA”.
However, it was his subsequent comment that a “major line of inquiry for this investigation is that members of the Provisional IRA were involved in this murder” and that he could not say at this stage “whether that was sanctioned at a command level or not and I’m not prepared to speculate on that” that was seized upon and created the subsequent political and media furore.
Some unionist politicians, ever quick to rush to judgement against Sinn Féin, threatened to exclude our party from the Assembly and Executive.
Elements of the media were no less quick. Some main media outlets speculated that ‘Action Against Drugs’ had entered into a working arrangement or joint enterprise with the IRA. Action Against Drugs has been vigorously opposed by Sinn Féin and accused of murder and extortion by Gerry Kelly and other republican leaders.
Journalists, some with long experience who should have known better, speculated that republicans were working with a criminal gang – riddled with agents and informers – made up of people trenchantly opposed to the Sinn Féin peace strategy and leadership. The inconsistency and contradictions inherent in this position were ignored.
During the years of conflict and censorship the idea of balance or of proper journalistic investigation, with some notable exceptions, went out the window. But in these more peaceful times the lack of impartiality and objectivity in this instance is equally striking. A press conference which was supposed to be about a murder investigation, morphed seamlessly into a media and political storm as to the status of the IRA.
As unionist leaders blustered, threatened and condemned Sinn Féin and the political institutions looked increasingly fragile the PSNI Chief Constable held another press conference.
According to George Hamilton the PSNI is “currently not in possession of information that indicates that Provisional IRA involvement was sanctioned or directed at a senior or organisational level within the Provisional IRA or the broader Republican movement.”
He went on to state that while he believes the IRA exists the PSNI assess that:
· “In the organisational sense the Provisional IRA does not exist for paramilitary purposes…
· “Our assessment indicates that a primary focus of the Provisional IRA is now promoting a peaceful, political Republican agenda.
· “It is our assessment that the Provisional IRA is committed to following a political path and is no longer engaged in terrorism.
· “I accept the bona fides of the Sinn Fein leadership regarding their rejection of violence and pursuit of the peace process and I accept their assurance that they want to support police in bringing those responsible to justice.
· “We have no information to suggest that violence, as seen in the murder of Kevin McGuigan, was sanctioned or directed at a senior level in the Republican movement.”
· “We assess that the continuing existence and cohesion of the Provisional IRA hierarchy has enabled the leadership to move the organisation forward within the peace process.”
He went on to further describe Action against Drugs as “an independent group that is not part of, or a cover name for the Provisional IRA”.
Unionist politicians ignored the bits that didn’t fit with their narrative and jumped on Hamilton’s claim that the IRA still exists to ratchet up the crisis.
I don’t agree with the PSNI Chief Constable’s claim that the IRA exists – even in the benign way he paints it. The war is over and the IRA is gone and is not coming back.
Over the two or more decades of the peace process Sinn Féin and republicans, including the IRA, have taken a series of historic initiatives to create the opportunity for peace; to sustain the process in difficult times and to overcome obstacles.
The progress that has been made is the collective work of many parties, groups, and individuals. But without the active participation of republicans and the risks we have taken for peace there would be no peace process.
Time and again elements of the British and Irish governments or the unionist parties and others have connived to undermine the political institutions. Some have done this in a very premeditated way while for others, crises have been created through their failure to fulfil their obligations or to uphold the Good Friday and other agreements.
The Sinn Féin leadership has worked hard to find imaginative and innovative ways to resolve problems. But this problem is not of our making. Sinn Féin has no responsibility whatsoever for those who killed Kevin McGuigan or Jock Davison. The response of the other political parties to these killings has been self-serving and short sighted.
The political institutions are already in considerable difficulty. There are important elements which have not been implemented. There are major budgetary difficulties and an ongoing effort by London to impose austerity policies on the northern Assembly.
There is also the ongoing and unanswered questions about the sell-off of NAMA’s loan book in the north and the allegation that some politicians and associates have benefited from this. Interestingly, though this goes to the heart of the Irish government, as well as the Executive, there is no speculation of the kind which is now in full flow around Sinn Féin’s worthiness as a political party.
Let me be very clear. Once again. Anyone who breaks the law should be held accountable by the justice and policing agencies. Sinn Féin supports these agencies and we will co-operate with the PSNI in their investigations into the killings of Jock Davison and Kevin McGuigan. We have consistently called on anyone with information to bring that forward so that those responsible can face due process in the courts. We are very mindful of the fact that there are two families and local communities grieving for the loss of loved ones.
It is our firm view that anyone involved in illegal activity should be held accountable before proper judicial processes. The PSNI investigation should go where the evidence takes it. It should be afforded all possible support to this end by all of the political parties and the two governments.
Let me be equally clear. Enough is enough. Sinn Féin has no special, or particular or specific responsibility to respond to the allegations made about the IRA, above and beyond what I have outlined here. There is no basis for the charges made against Sinn Féin by our political opponents and if this descends into a political crisis it is a direct result of their stupidity and party political opportunism.
Indeed given the manner in which the debate has descended into personalised attack, invective and Sinn Féin baiting, it is hard to know how the other parties, Executive Ministers or Irish government Ministers would hope to sort this crisis out.
Unless of course, and I accuse them of this, they are motivated entirely by party political and electoral interests.
Sinn Féin will not allow ourselves or more importantly our electorate to be demonised or marginalised over matters that have nothing to do with us. In this case there is nothing more Sinn Féin can do.
We have done more than anyone else to bring an end to conflict in our country and to open up an alternative peaceful and democratic path for republicans to pursue republican objectives. This never existed before.
The opportunistic and deeply cynical way in which these events have been seized upon to attack Sinn Féin, our integrity and our electoral mandate and the democratic rights and entitlements of our electorate, is shameful and will be robustly resisted by our party and our leadership.
British efforts and unionist posturing in this respect are not surprising. Every and any opportunity and issue is grasped by the unionist leaderships to try and dilute the potential of the Good Friday Agreement and the institutions. But the intervention of Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin, and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald and others in Dublin is especially contemptible.
Frances Fitzgerald has uncharacteristically undermined her role as Minister for Justice to politically smear Sinn Féin.
Micheál Martin has also sought to use these killings for party political purposes. He was the Minister for Foreign Affairs when the then Minister for Justice, Dermott Ahern said that the IRA was gone and not coming back.
In 2010 when Sinn Féin successfully negotiated the transfer of policing and justice with the two governments he was part of process. He never raised the matter with me once. But now we are on the cusp of an election and Micheál Martin is in electioneering mode.
His outrageous claim that the IRA funds and provides political intelligence for Sinn Féin while exercising community control is despicable. Last year the people of Ireland in free votes in the European and local government elections gave Sinn Féin the largest vote of any party on this island. Where those votes coerced? Are those voters naive or stupid or intimidated? No. They voted for Sinn Féin because we provide a real alternative to the bad politics of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour. And that is what really worries these parties.
For our part Sinn Féin will not be distracted from continuing with the difficult work of building the peace, resolving the budget issues in the Executive, getting on with the business of making the institutions function properly and winning support across this island for Irish unity and for the Republican alternative to austerity.
We will also continue to support the PSNI and An Garda Síochána in their fulfilment of their duties and we will make ourselves accountable to the electorate in the upcoming Assembly election and in the general election when the Taoiseach has the courage to call it.”

Government have underestimated Irish Water protestors at their peril
Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has spoken about the recent Right2Water mass rally in Dublin. She stated that the Fine Gael-Labour government has made the mistake of underestimating the strength of opposition against Irish Water.
Deputy McDonald said: “Irish Water has been one fiasco after the other. It is going nowhere. Protesters, citizens like you and me, are going nowhere too. And this government thought with their ‘conservation grant’ and their heavy-handed legislation, that they could purchase half of us, and intimidate the other half. The fool, the fools, the fools – they have underestimated us, you and me, at their peril. Because now is our time, now is our moment. This is our country. This is our republic in the making. And we will not tolerate their arrogant, bully boy politics any longer.”
She continued that: “This movement rests, in the first place, on the shoulders of every woman and man, every community that has stood up to be counted, well done – every single one of you. And we’re nearly there. The journey is nearly over. And when the next election comes – and I hope it’s sooner rather than later – let no-one be in any doubt that our demand will be an end to water charges and Irish Water and the beginning of a society based on decency, equality, fairness and full citizenship for every single one of us. That means a room over every citizens head. That means decent work. That means decent opportunities and fair taxation.”
She concluded by saying: “When Enda Kenny and Joan Burton and the others tell us that that is pie in the sky, that that can’t be done, well we say to them with one voice – just because you won’t do it, because you don’t have the heart or the gut or the conscience to do it, to do things the right way – don’t imagine that we’re all cut from the same cloth. Because when we say fairness, when we say a fair recovery, equality, an end to water charges and Irish Water – we mean it and we will deliver on it.”

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Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
14-21 August 2015

Tory government stoop to new lows to push anti-benefit ideology
Sinn Féin MP Mickey Brady condemned the recent revelation that the Department for Work and Pensions in London fabricated quotes on a leaflet promoting Welfare changes. Mr Brady commented: “The news that the Department for Work and Pensions in London, which is under the control of the millionaire minister Iain Duncan Smith, produces quotes from fictitious “benefit claimants” in order to put a gloss on punitive benefit sanctions is a new low.”
He continued saying: “Lets be clear, sanctions negatively affect people. Removing the already subsistence levels of benefit payments to people only pushes people into further hardship. As a result Sinn Féin successfully reduced the sanction time frame in all party negotiations on Welfare in the Stormont House agreement.”
He said that the incident only confirmed that “not only is this British government wedded ideologically to destroying the welfare state and the safety net it provides for society but it appears that they will even lie in their efforts to do so.”

Leadership needed to face down threat to political process
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has said that now is a time for calm heads and political leadership and he called on political leaders to stand together in facing down the threat to the political process posed by people trying to drag society back to the past.
Gerry Kelly stated that: “The families of Gerard ‘Jock’ Davison and Kevin McGuigan deserve justice and the task of the police is to carry out a thorough investigation. These killings were wrong and those responsible need to be brought to justice. The PSNI have said that the Action Against Drugs group threatened to kill anyone involved in the killing of Gerard Davison only days before the killing of Kevin McGuigan.”
Mr Kelly continued “I am on record as saying, and I repeat, this is a criminal gang which has been involved in extortion, intimidation and murder in nationalist communities. The PSNI need to get on with their investigation and bring to justice those responsible for the killing and I call again on people with any information connected to these killings to bring it forward to the police. I and my party colleagues have repeatedly called on the public to support and co-operate with those investigations and the criminal justice system needs to be allowed to run its course.”
Mr Kelly called the killings “an attack on all the people of this community.” And concluded by calling for “calm heads and mature political leadership.”

Sinn Féin committed to marriage equality
Sinn Féin MLA Caitriona Ruane has said that equality and civil rights is at the core of Sinn Féin’s decision to pursue the issue of marriage equality.
Ms. Ruane said, “Sinn Féin gave a commitment to campaign for marriage equality and given the recent moves in both Britain and the South of Ireland we believe the time is right to extend these rights to the north. There has been a huge change in attitudes towards the LGB&T community as was expressed in the referendum in the South and also the support given to Pride events right across the North. Equality threatens no one and it is time all parties stood up for the rights of all citizens regardless of creed, colour or sexual orientation and allow the introduction of marriage equality.”
She concluded by pledging to once more bring a motion for marriage equality to the floor of the Assembly the new term.

Stormont House legacy section needs implemented now
Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann has said that the mechanisms agreed in the Stormont House Agreement dealing with the legacy of the conflict are intended to achieve the maximum disclosure for all victims.
Ms. McCann said, “Sinn Féin is committed to helping families of victims to achieving truth and closure and support the mechanisms enshrined in the Stormont House Agreement as a step in achieving it. These include: the establishment of the Historical Investigations Unit (HIU); putting in place processes that are victim centered; improving Legacy inquests to ensure that they are conducted to comply with ECHR Article 2 requirements; ensuring that both governments provide full disclosure to the HIU; and establish the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR). While it is recognised that not all families will be satisfied with the Stormont House Agreement approach it will be a step forward.”
She continued that “Sinn Féin has consistently called for an independent international truth commission to be set up. In the absence of such a commission the mechanisms agreed at Stormont House present the best way forward for bereaved families and victims to achieve maximum disclosure. The British and Irish governments need to implement those elements of the Stormont House Agreement which deal with legacy issues and the past. Victims and their families should not be prevented from achieving truth and closure because of the failure to reach agreement on other issues.”
Ms McCann concluded by saying that the two governments should proceed with establishing the Historical Investigations Unit (HIU); improving Legacy inquests and establish the Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR).

Scandal of Ballymurphy case
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams TD has expressed his “deep concern and anger at the failure of the British government to progress the Ballymurphy case.”
The Sinn Féin leader has been given a copy of a letter sent from the Crown Solicitors Office to the Coroners Service in Belfast which reveals that ‘serious hurdles have been erected by the British state to the families getting to the truth of events in Ballymurphy in August 1971.’
The letter confirms that the ‘member of staff assigned to Ballymurphy has been reassigned’ and it also reveals that the British MOD ‘has not been able to uncover any records within its control regarding the original cipher list (British Army personnel) at Ballymurphy in 1971 … MOD has not as yet been successful in tracing any ciphered soldiers involved in Ballymurphy.’
Gerry Adams said that: “These are very serious matters which in light of the all-party motion passed by the Dáil on the killing of 11 civilians in Ballymurphy in August 1971 deserves the urgent attention of the Taoiseach.”
He said that the “deliberate withholding of resources and the failure to speedily identify the soldiers present in Ballymurphy is evidence of a British government and MOD deliberately frustrating the families efforts.”
He said that the Irish government “has a responsibility and a mandate from the Dáil to challenge the British Prime Minister and government on the way it which it is dealing with the Ballymurphy families and with this case.” He called on the Irish government to adopt a robust and assertive approach.
Mr Adams said he has asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny to raise concerns with David Cameron and instruct the Minister for Foreign Affairs to raise the matter with the British Secretary of State. He also called on the British government to give a commitment to allocate the necessary financial and personnel resources to the Ballymurphy Massacre case.

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Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
07-14 August 2015

Jeremy Corbyn at ‘West Belfast Talks Back’
British Labour party leadership challenger Jeremy Corbyn MP took part in the ‘West Belfast Talks Back’ political discussion event as part of Féile an Phobail 2015. During the evening Mr Corbyn called on the British Government to properly fund Northern Ireland’s welfare system and warned of increased poverty because of Tory plans. Mr Corbyn also reiterated his opposition to the use of plastic bullets and called for a standing commission to look into historical child abuse.
A video of the evening can be viewed here:

Sheehan encourages attendance at National Hunger Strike Commemoration
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has encouraged people to attend this year’s hunger strike commemoration in Dundalk on August 23.
The West Belfast MLA and former hunger striker said: “The 1981 hunger strike in which ten young men died in Long Kesh was a watershed moment in Irish political and social history.”
He said that “As republicans, we remember their sacrifice with pride and continue to take inspiration from their heroism. Since 1981 we have remembered the ten hunger strikers, as well as those from earlier generations, with dignity and pride.”
This year’s commemoration will be held in Dundalk, County Louth, on Sunday August 23. The assembly point is at Ballymascanlon roundabout at 2.15.

Public urged to write to Ibrahim Halawa
Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan has appealed to the Irish government to take a more proactive role in seeking the release of Ibrahim Halawa from prison in Egypt where he has been detained for two years this month.
Ms Boylan also asked that people to write to Ibrahim in prison to let him know that the campaign for his release has not abated and will continue until Ibrahim is allowed to come home.
Ms Boylan said: “Ibrahim has languished in an Egyptian prison for two years. He has been refused outside medical treatment, though he still suffers from injuries sustained during his arrest and has developed breathing difficulties and chest pains due to mistreatment while in captivity.”
Ms Boylan added that: “I would ask anyone and everyone to write to Ibrahim in prison and let him know that he has not been forgotten about and there are many people who want to bring him back to the streets of Dublin. Ibrahim is a Dublin teenager who was arrested at the age of 17. The Irish Government needs to do more to secure his release.”

Mickey Brady MP calls for underground Interconnector
Sinn Féin elected representatives gathered at the historical Navan Fort to launch the party’s submission in opposition to the planning application by the north’s energy system operator, SONI, for the Tyrone to Cavan section of the cross border electricity project, the North-South Interconnector. The party reiterated its call for the project to be delivered underground.
Mickey Brady Sinn Féin MP for Newry & Armagh said at the event that: “Sinn Féin’s position has been very clear from the very start, from the time that this project was first mooted. We recognise its importance to the island economy and to the safety and security of electricity supply in the north but, without a shadow of a doubt, this project is best delivered underground.”
Mr Brady noted that “Technological advances in recent years show that undergrounding is not only feasible but cost effective over the life of the project.”
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD for Cavan/Monaghan said: “It really is a case of underground or bust.”

Cemetery bombers will not succeed
Pat Doherty, Sinn Féin MP for West Tyrone, said that he was relieved no one was injured after a mortar bomb was left in the vicinity of Strabane Cemetery.
Mr Doherty said: “This action served no purpose other than to cause widespread disruption to the local community, preventing people from visiting the graves of loved ones.”
He continued that: “At a time when thousands of Republicans, confident in their ability to deliver a new Ireland through peaceful and democratic means, took to the streets of Dublin a small minority are attempting to take us backwards. They will not succeed.”
Mr Doherty concluded that: “It’s past time for the people behind this latest action to end their activity to a halt and respect the will of the people of Ireland to bring about reunification through peaceful means.”

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Sinn Fein
The Week in Review
16-23 July 2015

Britain must recognise `unique challenges facing the North’
David Cameron’s government must recognise the unique difficulties facing the Stormont Executive if the power sharing institutions are to survive, Martin McGuinness said this week.
Speaking on 21 July, as a Sinn Féin delegation, including Martin McGuinness, party President Gerry Adams, Vice President Mary Lou McDonald and former MP Michelle Gildernew, met with the British Prime Minister at Westminster, the Deputy First Minister called for a renewed effort to restore the political and economic viability of the political institutions.
He described the engagement as `useful’ and said that David Cameron `can be in no doubt about the seriousness of the crisis we are facing’. He said the political structures created by the Good Friday Agreement `are at the point of imminent collapse due to the British Government’s austerity agenda’.
Sinn Féin would `do everything in our power to prevent a collapse from happening’ he said, adding `others – particularly the British Government – must do the same’.
However, he said `for the institutions to survive, they need to deliver for all citizens, be they unionists, republicans or others. That requires a workable budget and a new approach and new investment from Westminster’. He urged the British Government to `accept the special circumstances of the north, as a society coming out of conflict, which lasted for almost 30 years’.
If we are to deliver for citizens, consolidate and build on the peace, create a peace dividend, which is tangible in deprived communities which suffered most as a result of the conflict, then the Executive needs the tools and the resources to address these deep-seated issues’ he said.
He concluded: `Successive British governments invested enormous, at times limitless, resources in pursuing a military agenda. They now need to bring a similar commitment to building a still fragile peace.’

Tories pushing more people into poverty
On 21 July Sinn Féin MP Francie Molloy said the Tory government was `intent on attacking low-paid workers and the unemployed and pushing more people into poverty’.
Speaking after the British parliament voted for the latest welfare bill, introducing new cuts to child and working tax credits and social protections Mr Molloy said it was `a further attack on low-paid workers and families on low incomes’. He said the Tory `assault’ on public services and the most vulnerable in society remained `the greatest threat to the political institutions in the north’.
He said the Tories had `no mandate in the north for their austerity cuts agenda which clearly isn’t working in Ireland, in Britain or in Europe’ and concluded `political leaders in the north need to stand together with civic society and demand a sustainable budget for the Executive which delivers public services and social protections for those most in need.’

Sinn Fein Chairperson urges `Coalition for reconciliation’
Speaking on 16 July, Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney has called for a `coalition for reconciliation’ to `unlock the next phase of the peace process’.
Speaking a few days after addressing a packed public meeting in Westminster’s Portcullis House, Mr Kearney said `those who share a strategic vision for the future of the peace process must reach out to each other and make alliances for the greater good’.
He said that a coalition for reconciliation, `drawn from all sections of society and throughout Ireland and Britain’ was necessary to `unlock a new phase of the peace process’.
`The time has come for us all to develop reconciliation, promote healing and to embrace forgiveness’, he said, adding `that is a challenge which will be both difficult and painful because uncomfortable compromises inevitably need to be considered.’
He said it challenged everyone to `open our hearts and minds and embrace respect, generosity, forgiveness and trust’, as `the foundations of a shared future’.
He concluded that `reconciliation and healing must be our future otherwise society and politics will remain trapped in the pain and resentment of the past.’
Other speakers at the Westminster meeting included former British Government Minister for the North Peter Hain, Liberal Democrat Peer and former Assembly Speaker Lord John Alderdice, Irish in Britain Chief Executive Jennie McShannon, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Canon for Reconciliation David Porter, and Professor Mary Hickman of St Mary’s University London in the Chair. A full report of the meeting will be published in the August issue of An Phoblacht.
A series of articles on the theme `Uncomfortable Conversations’, initiated by Declan Kearney, can be found here.

`Zero tolerance’ against sectarianism
Later, on 17 July, Declan Kearney urged `a change in mindsets’ and tougher laws to tackle sectarianism.
Mr Kearney said the `deep-rooted levels of sectarianism in Northern society’ were `graphically in evidence during the last fortnight’.
He said that `an unambiguous zero tolerance must be shown against sectarian mind sets and actions by all sections of our community and towards every form of sectarian hatred – regardless of the source’.
He reiterated his call for forming a coalition for reconciliation `from within all sections of society and taking that agenda forward would be an important start’, adding `sectarianism needs to be stamped out and the bigots wedded to sectarian violence and vandalism dealt with by effective legislation, the police and the courts’.
He said `reconciliation, healing and a shared future is the only way forward. It is time for that agenda to have primacy, particularly in the North’, and concluded `none of us have anything to fear from the exercise of mutual respect and in fact much to learn from each other and our differing political and cultural traditions.’

Displays of sectarian hate need to be challenged – Adams
On 17 July, Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams TD called for political and legal action to end what he called `displays of sectarian hate’ that had accompanied 12th July events in the North.
Gerry Adams said the `open displays of sectarian hatred and intimidation which we witnessed around this year’s Twelfth celebrations are, regrettably, an increasing occurrence’.
Describing these as `hate crimes’ he said they were `completely unacceptable in any modern democratic society’. He said the public burning of the Irish national flag, `the burning of the effigies of nationalist and republican representatives and candidates’ election posters are hate crimes pure and simple’.
The organisers of bonfires where these crimes are committed `need to be rigorously investigated by the PSNI and the perpetrators prosecuted’, he said, adding `Police action to date has been derisory, but it is no longer acceptable for the PSNI to stand back while an entire community is demonised and subjected to an annual campaign of sectarian hatred.’
Mr Adams said he had initiated a complaint to the PSNI last July around an incident involving an effigy of him which he intended to press ahead.
He said `I do not believe that the disgraceful scenes we witnessed around some Twelfth bonfires represent genuine Orangeism. Sinn Féin fully support the rights of the loyal orders to parade and to celebrate but we need to see more leadership from unionist political parties and from the Orange Order on this issue.’

O’Dowd condemns attack on PSNI in Lurgan
On 19 July, Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has condemned those responsible for an attempt to kill PSNI officers in Lurgan. The Upper Bann MLA said `This bomb attack in Lurgan was wrong and should be condemned by everyone. Thankfully no one was injured by these devices but several local families had to be moved from their homes.
He added `Not only did this attack endanger the lives of PSNI officers but it also could have killed or injured anyone else in the vicinity. It was attack on the entire community. Those responsible for this bomb showed absolutely no regard for the people of Lurgan with this attack.
He concluded `The community in Lurgan and people right across the North do not want this and we will not allow a tiny minority to attempt to drag us back to the past.’

United Ireland economy can deliver sustainable prosperity
On 23 July, Sinn Fein activists and leading economics experts gathered in Derry for a major economic strategy conference.
Sinn Fein MLA and Agriculture minister Michelle O’Neill was among speakers and asserted that a stronger economy in a united Ireland could deliver `sustainable prosperity for all’.
She said Sinn Fein wanted `a New and Equal United Ireland’ and were gathering for a `robust debate’ on how to achieve that.
The party would continue to `argue the case for greater economic powers for the north of Ireland [and] will argue the case for Irish Unity’, she said, adding `the more power the people of Ireland have, the more we can achieve and that extends to delivering a New and United Ireland’.
She said that the north faced `the daily challenges of the current financial and budgetary crisis’ which Sinn Fein sought `positive solutions’.
Sinn Féin’s approach to governance in the north, she said `acting in Ireland’s interest, demonstrates clearly what is possible even within the very severe financial and economic challenges that we face’.
She said that while `Westminster and Dublin cut during the crunch years, we invested what we could, where we could’ and had `invested all that we could in the northern economy’. They had also protected our Health Service from privatisation; protected people from water charges and prescription charges; ensured that older people benefit from free transport; and had retained the Educational Maintenance Allowance to support young people from poorer backgrounds to stay in education. She said Sinn Fein’s approach was one which `protected the people, invested in business, created jobs’.
This had been done `within the crippling constraints of British budget cuts that show no sign of going away’ she said.
She said `much more’ could be achieved within a United Ireland, `which is a just fair and equal Ireland’. She said `two competing, fractured economies on this island will not deliver prosperity for the people of Ireland’.
She added that `where joint enterprise is applied, such as in Health, not only does it provide a higher standard of care but it produces better economic outcomes also. It improves the economic and physical well-being of our citizens’.
She said Sinn Fein supported the creation of a Border Economic Zone as a means of fostering economic recovery in the border counties ensure that there is a timetable and plan for the full integration of public services in Ireland; and stood for an integrated economic strategy for Ireland.

British government austerity biggest threat to institutions – Murphy
Meanwhile, also speaking at the conference, Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy said the British government’s austerity agenda remained `the biggest threat to the political institutions in the North’.
He said `austerity isn’t working’, but was `all that is on offer from Britain’. In its place `we need to see sustainable and workable finances for the Executive to enable it to deliver core public services, protect the most vulnerable and create jobs’, he said, adding `we need to see a united campaign from a broad rage of society, including political parties, trade unions, community groups and others to fight austerity, protect public services and grow the economy.’

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