10/09/2011 Sinn Fein Party Conference

It is the first party conference in this political season and for the

first time Sinn Fein have brought their Ard Fheis north of the border.

Welcome to the The Conference programme coming today from the

Waterfront Hall. This gathering has been making use because of one of

its keynote speakers, and he has not even been a member of Sinn Fein.

We will hear some of what the Presbyterian Reverend Devon

Vladimir has to save. -- David Latimer. First I am joined by Mark

Devonport, our political editor. Changed times for Action Fein. --

changed times for Sinn Fein. Normally we need south of the

border and now it is north of the border. Most of the Sinn Fein

conferences have been down in Dublin. I cannot recall a time when

they would have had a mask man from the IRA addressing them, not a

minister. We were at one stage in a community centre in a fairly

private area of Dublin. But it is now part of the mainstream. I can

recall a time when the Waterfront Hall, when it was open, was a

target for a bomb alert. That was when Prince Charles officially

opened it. This is symbolic of the journey that Sinn Fein have come on

and some wider political processes in the country. Discussions last

night indicated change as well. It was not necessarily the target for

united Ireland by 2016. Martin McGuinness has been talking about

the need for national conversation to change island in the next five

years in the run up -- to change island in the next five years in

the run up to the 100 years. There is a lot of rhetoric and people are

interested in it David Latimer's appearance from last night. There

has been a lot of interest from the Dublin media are on the Irish

presidential campaign. Yes, there has been talk of having a president

for all of Ireland. Citizens north of the border are not entitled and

some think that should change. Given what has happened, the

withdrawal of Senator David Norris, there is the feeling that people

might want someone else to enter the race. This bubble might grow

with the more Sinn Fein figures like Mary Lou McDonald. Possibly

Michelle Gilda neo-, her name has been mentioned. -- Michelle

Gildernew, her name has been mentioned. Sinn Fein has entered

the race to try to take up some of the space that Fine Gael has

indicated. What we will be getting at this weekend is the identity of

the candidate. What did he make of the keynote Speaker last night?

David Latimer was an interesting Speaker because there was a bad

story to him. He is a Presbyterian minister who struck up a great

friendship with Martin McGuinness after seeking his help and stopping

his church being vandalised. He helped modernise the church. The

chemistry between those two is very evident. He spoke in very moderate

political tensions but overtly Christian and evangelical terms. --

political terms. Some of the Presbyterian audience outside this

area might have watched it and it might have put some of them off but

he went down very well within Waterfront Hall when he used --

called the Irish his friends and called the mind McGuinness one of

the greatest Irish leaders. -- called Martin McGuinness one of the

greatest Arras leaders. We will be hearing from Pearse Doherty. You

are riding high after two successful elections. Is there a

feeling of satisfaction? This is a departure for us, coming to Belfast.

There is a good atmosphere around the Irish this weekend and we are

looking forward to all of the speeches. There have been two

elections and who knows if it will be the first presidential election

or not. That decision will be made next week. There is the strong

sense that we are growing. There are a lot of young people and new

members here and there is a sense of a vibrancy. What about how the

assembly is going? There are accusations from your critics that

there is a double standard going on. You are able to say no to cuts in

the south but you are quite about public sector cuts in the north.

Our position is the same in both. We want to protect jobs and

services. We are dealing with the impact of cuts. This is why the

budget process took so long in the spring. We want to offset the

damage the Tories have done and come up with new ideas and generate

income so that we can protect vital services and public sector. We know

we are in a difficult situation and there it is no way to escape

unscathed. We want to protect jobs and public services and that has

been approached right across Ireland. What is your view on that?

There are many people who would say there is a double standard

operating. Critics would say that you cannot stand in opposition in

the south and say no to everything else. I do not think there is a

double standard. Sinn Fein is a united party and we have the same

principles north and south of the border. That is what our assembly

team had been doing in terms of making sure that we have been able

to diminish as much of the Tory cuts that people depend on. There

is a reality where we do not have complete cohesion in the six

counties and Sinn Fein are looking to regain economic sovereignty. Our

economic sovereignty has been handed away to Brussels. We live in

these two realities. The objectives are the same and that is to ensure

that the cuts, wherever they happen, do not come down on the most will

rubble and those on lower income has. -- most vulnerable. There was

a conversation about uniting Ireland in the next five years. Do

you accept that the 2016 target is gone? I do not think there was ever

a 2016 target. There were emotions about bringing Ireland together by

2016. There are some that would like it united by tomorrow morning.

These are the issues we want to work out as soon as possible. We

have seen the benefits economically and socially across all of the

different Spears of society. What Martin McGuinness addressed last

night is the changes that has happened in the last ideas and what

he has put out there to the wider community across Ireland about the

potential. What will Ireland look like in 2016? Will it look

different? I hope that it does. I hope that... Island is not in a

good place and we had huge cuts that are pushing down on people. --

We need to address the legacy of the past and we are confident as

Sinn Fein members that we are on the journey and we want to bring

our fellow neighbours and friends from different communities and

political perspectives on our journey and we are confident we can

do that. We will hear more from these guests in a moment but this

morning we have the First Deputy Minister, Martin McGuinness, who

has been speaking about the moments of a decade ago. He has been

talking about his thoughts on what happens on SEP- 11 to 2001 in New

York. -- 11th September to 2001. Myself and Gerry Adams were at a

meeting with the Taoiseach in Dublin. A civil servant rushed in

and told us that a plane had hit at the World Trade Centre and of

course we thought it was an accident. A short while later he

came back and said that a second plane had hit the World Trade

Centre and then we knew it was not an accident. Both myself and Gerry

Adams had travelled to New York on many occasions and our first but

work of concern for her many friends in that fine city. New York

has been a long-time supporter of Irish freedom and we have many

supporters in that city and throughout the United States. A

great friend of Ireland who visited here on many occasions, Father

Michael Judge, who was christened in Ireland, perished in the World

Trade Centre on that day with so many others. He was a frequent

visitor to Belfast and was a very badly injured. We thought the loss

of a father judge was something that impacted as very personally

indeed. It is important that as we said about uniting Ireland that we

are conscious of the important role that Irish people across the role

will play in that because that is the task that we as Republicans

have set ourselves and four as republicanism is not rhetoric. It

is real and it is in the here and now. Many people make the mistake

of thinking that republicanism is about... That was Martin McGuinness

speaking earlier. We can now go live to hear another Speaker.

dealt a blow to the new beginning to policing. Not only was he wrong

but we wonder why he defend the indefensible 40 years after the

event. -- defend the indefensible. Sinn Fein will not like this happen.

-- let this happen. The PSNI chief constable has a responsibility to

prevent this also. He must face down the dinosaurs. He needs to

attend a meeting with the community and the PSNI needs to atone for

past wrongs. It is too late for Al Hutchinson. Three separate reports

have condemned his leadership. I believe in fully accountable

policing, therefore I want the credibility of the office to be

restored. Al hundred saying is at the core of the problem -- Al

Hutchinson is at the core of the problem so he is not the one to fix

it. Let him hear it from this audience, he must go, he should go

Sinn Fein is here to continue the momentum to represent a fully

accountable service for the whole community. We will not stop until

that is achieved. If we do not, no one will. That is why we are on the

justice committee and dealing with police in partnerships. Our support

for policing, up north and south, is critical support. That means

that we will be the first to stand against problems in policing and

the E E D -- and be the first to sort it out and sort out criminal

We can speak again to Conor Murphy and Pearse Doherty who have stayed

with us. Trews recovery was a bleak theme of Martin McGuinness's speak

last night. -- trews recovery was a big theme. Some of the measures

seem to have worsened things. They have not brought a sense of

satisfaction and Gerry Kelly was referring to some of the problems

with the ombudsman's office. I think that is linked to that. It is

a very, very complex and difficult process but we have always argued

that a pot-pourri -- a proper cruise recovery process needs to be

one in which all parties are probably engaged. It needs to be

international in terms of its make- up so that's why we do not have a

sense of it being a under the ownership of anybody to a

protagonist. We are very keen to see that happen. It may not deal

with every issue that people have and every part of a legacy of a

very bitter and violent conflict but there are steps needed. Just on

that point, Martin McGuinness acknowledged last night that the

other parties have not bought into your idea yet of the International

truth Commission. Is it a first step towards trying to deal with

the past, there should be all-party talks on the past. There are forums

for all-party talks in the executive, in the Assembly. It is

not the best venue to have this discussion. We have put forward

ideas. I am not sure if others have ideas. It is necessary that we deal

with the legacy of the conflict. It is a necessary step to try to get

reconciliation, to deal with the past and trees -- the past and the

hurt. It also involves the British Government and the Irish Government

as well. That is where I said it needs to be a party in which every

party is brought into. To genuinely try to bring about the ad prices.

Martin McGuinness said last night he felt the British had not done

enough, but it is that Republicans have done very little in terms of

trews recovery. We have co-operated with the commission trying to

recover bodies as well and it has been a difficult process but we

have said it is very difficult to try to get one sort of organisation

that is related to the conflict to come forward in the absence of

every over. We want a genuine process that involves all

protagonists. In that way we can bring everybody together and try to

get some pleasure for many of the victims. How essential do you think

it is, because in these economic times, considering the cost of some

of the previous inquiries, something on an international level

because presumably even more than something on a more local level. Do

you think it is time to draw a line and it? If it depends if it is a

legal or judicial process which can beat very costly. But if it does

not necessarily involve lawyers, which tend to be the gate is to --

greatest cost, perhaps we can have a process which is not costly but

does give people the opportunity to ask questions to find out what

happened to their loved ones and to get some sense of pleasure. You

meet ten different families and there are 10 different solutions. -

- some sense of closure. It is a chance to do us so in a genuine way.

How important is true for recovery to your constituents and the

electorate in the south? Are you dealing with two distinct

electorate? Not really. The culprit was not just contained within the

six counties. But our people in the South not now more concerned about

jobs? Of course. We are not saying this is the priority but it is an

element. If we are to move forward we needed and we need all the

protagonists to come forward and engage in a meaningful way. So are

not trying to frustrate it or keep information hidden or away from the

families of the loved ones who lost their lives. We need that type of

prisoners to move forward as decided. People are still hurting

out there and we need some type of system. Sinn Fein have been very

open and genuine in coming with this type of solution. It is not

today or yesterday we have argued for such a system. We put it out

there for a number of years now and there is an onus on both

governments to engage with it. Pearse Doherty, to using with

hindsight you would agree with David Latimer that the Queen, in

visiting the sad and what she had to say there, that she actually

played a positive role in the trying to come to terms with the

past? -- the South. The visit to the garden of remembrance was

significant. When we look back and we are talking about drugs recovery,

the British Government are still refusing to hand over the files of

those bombings even though the Irish Government has demanded it

twice by a motion passed in that parliament. So when we are talking

about the truce, and we are looking out where the British Government

has a role to play. It affects the families, when you have the head of

state, the British Queen, the English queen, coming over, head of

the British Army, who were responsible in of view in part of

the Dublin Monaghan bombings and not moving forward by handing over

the files, we cannot move forward in a meaningful way. David Latimer,

a Presbyterian minister from Derry, address to delegates here at the

Ard Fheis. He's acceptance of the request to speak drew some

criticism. David is my friend. We have different allegiances but that

is all right. We have one thing in common. We believe in peace. We

believe in moving forward together. We believe in sharing. It gives me

a great, great pleasure to invite Thank you. My goodness. How can I

followed Martin McGuinness? Frankly, I do not think I can, because I see

him, Martin, I see you as one of the true great leaders of modern

times. And my prayer is that he will be

empowered and envisioned to take this forward in the inclusive way

that he is committed to, and I hope he gets the support from others

from within the other political parties, because it is together

that we are going to build the future better and brighter.

Martin did not tell you but he got me �1.6 million you know. I wonder

what I am expected to do tonight for that! But I must tell you about

a clergyman who was in a church for the first time and he was not quite

sure if the acoustics were just functioning properly soap he saw

somebody back in a corner and he said to them, can you are you all

right? The person said, I can, but I wish I could change places with

someone who can't! So do you want to change now? I heard you.

That his Irish for friends and I begin intentionally with this word

because that is what I firmly believe and in my script I have

written I firmly believe we are to be coming -- we are becoming, but

since arriving tonight I have been overwhelmed by the warmth and the

magnitude of the welcome that I have received, right from the

security men at the barriers as I came in, through the corridors and

into this hall. I do not think I would have the same welcome in the

general Assembly in Belfast. Your invitation to me, a Protestant

minister, is, I must tell you, forward looking and timely. I used

these words in a couple of interviews this week and do you

know something? Do you see the deluge of messages I have been

receiving from both our communities? I have been gobsmacked

by it. Only about 5% of a massive amount of messages have been

negative, and all the rest have been positive, which suggests to me

out there There is a swathe of people who are looking for positive

leadership so that together we can go forward. Is it possible, do you

think, that the Democratic Unionists could see their way to

invite a Catholic priest to address their party conference this year or

next? I would like to think my Co religion lists would emulate what

you have done, not for cheap publicity because that will not

take us anywhere. Rather, in recognition, despite our respective

Dublin or London preferences, which we have to learn to respect and

accept, but despite our differing aspirations, we want to acknowledge

that our destinies are tied up together and our futures are bound

together, which means, ladies and gentlemen, that neither of us can

continue to work alone and the more we do together as people on the

street, the better we will shape our shared future. What will we do?

We will keep moving forward together. We must not let the peace

die. We will not let the peace die, and with a man of the hell like

Martin, we can be sure of that. Four of you, my friends, -- for all

of you, my friends, the nationalists and Catholics, for me,

Presbyterian and Unionist, but together we are people made in the

image of God. And it is as people that I share this lovely blessing.

So listen to this, because it is for you and indeed it is the fall

or are people. May the Lord show his mercy upon us. May the light of

his presence be our guide. May he gardeners and a poll this. May his

spirit be ever art our side. When we sleep, may his angels watch over

us. When we wake, may you fill us with his grace. May we love him and

serve him all our days, then in heaven, may we see his face through

Jesus Christ our Lord. In the Name Of the Father, and of the Sun, and

of the Holy spirit. Amen. SPEAKS IRISH. Have I got it right?

Our guests are still with us. Conor Murphy, what did you make of the

Reverend David Latimer? He was a welcome guest. It was important. In

terms of the reconciliation process. But in terms of just relationship

building, and a show of respect for other communities, his decision to

come here was a courageous one for him. He was saying he has received

a huge amount of support in doing that but also he will face some

criticism and I think the genuine process of reconciliation takes

leadership, takes people from our perspective to step out there and

meet others halfway and people like David Latimer are doing that.

talked about a day of recognition. Do you support that? Anything which

contributes to a better prices of reconciliation, of engagement, can

help. -- a process. We need much more than a day to try to resolve

some of the legacy of the conflict, to try to share a future together

in which we can build a better new Ireland. Anything which contributes

to that should be supported. you imagine it happening, though?

This is even difficult to talk about a memorial to the troubles.

Yes, and I think that is the case and it shows you how complex an

area it is. Some of these things are in danger of becoming

superficial. It needs nice people from both communities to get

together. But I think we want a genuine it conciliation -- a

genuine reconciliation process. Last night there was a symbol of

that engagement. As Martin McGuinness said, we have a genuine

process of dialogue. Anything which contributes to that is helpful and

welcome but it is a process which needs all of the participants

bought into, which means Etude contribution from Evra body,

particularly the British Government and Irish Government, and through

that we can find a genuine process The last election we had Peter

Robinson talking about Catholics voting for the DUP. Do you think

that is realistic? I am sure there are people of Catholic faith and

some of have no religious faith in Sinn Fein, and there had been

people in the past from different religions. David Latimer addressing

The Conference was very symbolic. It was good for in a Sinn Fein to

goals and outside of them. Many people will think that someone from

the Protestant faith has addressed a Sinn Fein event and it is not

like that. We have had many different people from different

religions address Sinn Fein at our conferences. It is just a process

of outreach and engagement. We have talked about the journey that we

would like to go on together. To bring that about we have to be

engaged. It is about challenging all of us. David Latimer said that

some of the things of that mark McGuinness says -- Martin

McGuinness may challenge as but you have to take risks. Republicans

have always take -- taking risks and challenged ourselves.. We have

been trying to -- ourselves. We have been trying to gain some

reconciliation for things that have happened in the past. We can hear

from Mary Lou McDonald and a little of what she has been saying this

morning. The real reform that we need means more integration and

more responsive services. It means eliminating red tape and reversing

the front line. It means capping the high-flyers at the top and

ending the scandal of malty mention -- multi- million pension scandals.

It means that Citizens young and old can access the services that

they need. This is the reform agenda at that we in Sinn Fein will

champion and support. We will vigorously oppose any moves to

privatise services, to sell off valuable state companies and assets,

or to scapegoat public servants. We have one minister who is completing

a comprehensive spending review, of which there has been much talk in.

I leave you with this final plot. As the minister peruses this --

final thought. As the minister praises the spinal issues come up I

astute -- B's final issues, I ask you to think about cutting from the

top. Minister, know this, the ordinary people have a taking

enough, and we in this party and in this Sinn Fein party, we stand

shoulder to shoulder and if you come after us again we will come

right back at you. That is Mary-Lou McDonald talking about important

issues for people south and north of the border. We are joined by the

agricultural minister Michelle Gildernew and another guest. --

Agriculture Minister. Michelle, we have been talking about

agricultural policy reform and benefits and the subsidies paid

from Europe. How will you deal with some of these issues? I think it is

important that we approach this as a team Ireland approach. We need to

get everybody together and go out with a common purpose. We have the

same common goal. Together we can be a stronger voice in Europe. I

have done a lot of work with the Minister for the 26 counties and we

want to get a team Ireland approach a for Europe. Can it make a

difference? How much influence do you think you will rarely have?

have put our own submission in it to Europe on how we think the new

cap should be. We think it should be strong and flexible. I was able

to Secure or some meetings with and will ensure people in Europe and I

want to make sure that we have a strong voice in Europe and have the

best for our local farmers. We are very much differ from DEFRA in our

approach. They are not fighting as strong so I would like to stick to

the team Ireland approach. You are obviously within sight of Short

Strand here. Your constituency has had some difficult times. What can

Sinn Fein do to bring an end to some of the sectarian tensions?

are working with some of those who are taking the lead, grassroots

activists, who are helping out. We got a contribution from David

Latimer and we are very much up for engaging with the Unionists

Protestant loyalists. Her we bring a confidence in our own review of

the world and where we want to take our people collectively and that

includes the Unionist community. Are we talking about uniting

Ireland rather than a united Ireland? That is the ideology that

we appear to and that is what I have tried to do during my year

here in Belfast so far. I think that is the spirit with which

activists,. -- with which activists come. What happened in my

constituency was a pre-planned attack on the Short Strand

community and there is no doubt about that. A lot of the people

that I speak to in working-class loyalist areas feel left behind and

feel let down. Some of them feel abandoned by people who have

claimed to be political leaders. They should get a grip on that

situation because whatever perceived grievance or a legitimate

grievance, it cannot be justified, and that is why we have taking a

series of motions. It is not about having an event as a dividend as --

as significant as having dinner Latimer speech -- having David at

Latimer speak, but I have walked along with Sammy Douglas and you

have had people from Short Strand joining in and Sammy Douglas said

it was not the first time he had been on those streets at that time

of the morning but it was for different reasons. I am very

confident that there can be more. Belfast City Council is aspiring to

bringing down these problems but there is more debate about whether

more walls should be put up or not. I am not sure they would agree with

that. I am very conscious of being desires of the people who live

there and in the shadow of those walls. I think there needs to be

ongoing engagement with then. That is why I had been involved and I

think it is the people who will show us what needs to happen next.

Michelle O'Neill is here. Ministers have been speaking and the

Education Minister explain why they have been holding on to the

portfolio. Why has Sinn Fein been so resolute in remaining at the

helm of the Department of Education for the third term and a Northern

Assembly? I have been asked this question on numerous occasions and

the answer is simple. To education we can make real and positive

change to society. -- through education. We can get success

through a number of ways through education. We give credence to the

right plan. Some people might say that Sinn Fein shows some of the

Sedley easier ministers -- slightly easy ministers and do not want to

talk much about getting the private sector up and running again.

Education does not get more economic -- education, it does not

get more economic than that. It will be good for people to get into

the workplace. Those are all very positive things and this is an

economic department. I think employment rates in this department

are increasing day on day and the the future -- the future of looks

very positive. I think we need to make positive choices and you can

see right across The Conference that people are happy with the work

we are doing. There are many challenges and things to do but we

are happy with this challenge us. What was the reasoning behind some

of your comments? We are looking at the increasing the role and the

ministers are promoting things and Belfast. Delegates wanted it to

come north. The art has to be rotated. I am delighted to welcome

it here to Belfast. It is a historic city. You have ever 2000

delegates here in the City and that will be quite a boost -- over 2000

delegates here in the city and that will be quite a boost. I am

enjoying Belfast and hopefully they will come back. It is quite

impressive. It looks impressive. What about your people on the

ground was that will they have any questions about the cost of staging

a conference when people are struggling for their jobs? I think

that is a red herring to be honest. We have a budget for the events and

it is somewhat modest. Activists are a very pleased with the Budget.

It is in a sleek venue that is built for things like this. They

can wear it as a badge of honour for Belfast. This is about people

coming and putting their views forward about where they agree and

do not agree. It is a good opportunity and I do not think

there will be any complaints. is the future for Sinn Fein? What

his next? You have seen our success this year. It has been fantastic.

We have a very bright future. We have a very young party and it is

very progressive. I think the future is very bright. That is all