14/04/2013 Sinn Fein Party Conference

continuing coverage of this year's Sinn Fein Ard Fheis. We are in

Castlebar. The themes under discussion have included the Irish

government's attempts to deal with austerity. Criticism of unionists

alleged inward-looking attitude on the Stormont Executive and criticism

of dissidents' attempts to wreck the process from the outside. Gerry

Adams is marking his 30th year as Sinn Fein President. Last night, he

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

got, as ever, a rousing reception Sinn Fein, from the USA, from

Canada, from Australia, to our comrades in the Basque country,

Palestine, Cuba, Britain, and to all from this Ard Fheis to the

Palestinian people and to the international community to take

decisive action for peace in the Middle East. This week saw the 15th

anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Sinn Fein is proud of the

pivotal role we played with others in forging that agreement. There

would be no peace process, no agreement without the commitment,

the initiatives, the political risks taken by Irish republicans. Without

the great work of individuals like Des Wilson, Harold Goode and,

especially, Father Reid. It isn't a perfect agreement but Sinn Fein did

secure the removal of the Government of Ireland Act under which the

British Government claimed sovereignty over the North. The

agreement provides for a border poll on Irish unity. Sinn Fein is very

Nationalist Ireland says yes. It is time to let the people have their

say on the future of Ireland. It is time for a referendum on Irish

to IRA activists and Sinn Fein councillor Jacqui Clark, this county

has a long distinguished Republican history. So it is particularly

appropriate that we meet here and prove that the West is, indeed,

solidarity and freedom. Sinn Fein has always stood by the people. This

Government, like the one before it, has failed the people. Its core

values are those of austerity. It has refused to negotiate, refused

point plank to negotiate a write-down, it gave away our natural

resources including here in Mayo, it tore up the Croke Park Agreement. It

cut child benefit, careers' allowance, home help hours. It has

no problem putting money, taxpayers' money into the pockets of bankers

the banks. They have taken 28 billion out of the economy in taxes

and cuts. The cuts, the hospitals, to schools, taxes on pensionings,

savings and home -- pensions, savings and homes. In October, this

Government will take another 3 billion. The next Year 2.5 billion

more. They have little thought for the social consequences of their

actions of the divided, unequalled society that they are creating. Of

improve Irished communities and families hurting from the scourge of

drug and alcohol abuse and suicide. What the bankers, the developers,

the politicians who created the mess, they get off scot-free.

Despite the election rhetoric from neighbour, this is the best small

country in the world for big bankers, crooked developers and

promises and commitments, we keep them. Sinn Fein will put manners on

the elite and on the "fat cats". property tax. We are against plans

to. We will fight this family tax, this tax on the family home

tooth-and-nail. We have published legislation to scrap it and, in

introduction of water charges. We didn't do it in the North and we

will resist any legislation to introduce them here in the South.

The only way to rebuild our economy and to rebuild society is to break

with the self-serving politics of fin gale, Labour and Fianna Fail.

They socialised the debt afterwards. They are taking from those who have

least to benefit those who have most. Sinn Fein was right during the

era of the Celtic Tiger when we said the wealth should be used to build

public services, infrastructure and sustainable jobs. Sinn Fein is right

when we say the economy needs growth and jobs. We were right in our

demand to burn the bondholders. We are right in our call not to pay the

promisery note and we are right to tackle the high pay of politicians

tackled. But those with the broadest shoulders must bare the heaviest

load. The week, the vulnerable, the least well-off will be protected. If

this was a real Republic, working people would not be published for

the greed of others. Families would not be punished. Women would not be

punished. Children would not be punished. Citizens with disabilities

would not be punished. People here in rural Ireland would not be

punished. But the poor, especially real rub lick. For Sinn Fein -- real

Republic. For Sinn Fein, it doesn't have to be like this. Change is

needed now. Sinn Fein is offering a real alternative. We are committing

to investing 13 billion euros in job creation and retention. We have

presented realistic and costed alternative budget proposals to

reduce the deficit, create growth and protect families under financial

pressure. The mortgage crisis, a direct result of Fianna Fail policy

and this Government's failure to help struggling families. We propose

the establishment of an independent mortgage distress body to adjudicate

and to enforce agreements on mortgages between banks and mortgage

holders. The mark of a real rub lick has to be in the -- Republic has to

be in the quality of its public services. These include the right to

a home, the right to a job, the right to education, to a health

service, from the cradle to the grave, the right to a safe and clean

environment, to civil and religious and this is what real democracy

public services delivered fairly and paid for by direct taxation. This

should include decent childcare facilities at affordable prices, so

no matter what Government ministers say no parent should be forced from

their job because they earn less visited many rural communities,

blighted by unemployment and poverty. In places where our young

people should have an opportunity to build their lives. We saw first-hand

how immigration is tearing the hearts out of rural families. We met

families bereft by the scourge of suicide. Sinn Fein will publish a

comprehensive report standing up for rural Ireland. In This report

outlines the need to reverse Fianna Fail's need to cut Garda numbers.

Creating jobs and investing in our fishing industry is key to ensuring

a future for rural communities, especially here in the west of

Ireland. But people who live in rural communities also need schools,

accessible Health Services, decent infrastructure, public transport,

and an end to isolation. We need active regeneration. Across this

island, the Irish language needs to be promoted including in the North.

Women are among those most shamefully denied their rights under

the Conservative culture. Marylou McDonald spoke for everyone

on the day the Magdalene Report was published. She said it was time for

a full apology to these brave woman. That happened eventually but

now they need justice. Victims need justice. This week people across

Ireland have moved by the report from the inquest of the Indian lady

and the grief and great dignity of her husband. I wish to stand -- I

wish to extend my sympathies to the family and its friends. Her death

rode into sharp and tragic focus the failure of successive governments to

legislate in these situations. The people have spoken and firmly placed

the responsibility on our representatives to legislate on this

issue. It is time doctors had legal clarity and it is time pregnant

women had protection in their lives are at risk. Sinn Fein opposes

austerity across the silent. Despite �4 billion of cuts by the British

government, the ministerial and Assembly team under Martin

McGuinness has prioritised finding money to maintaining frontline

services, to protect those on low incomes and assist disadvantaged

communities. The so-called welfare reform bill is another example of

the English Conservative agenda. Sinn Fein is the deposed to these

cuts in exactly the same way. -- Sinn Fein is opposed. We are also

working for the transfer of fiscal power to the Assembly and Executive

and for the harmonisation of the corporation tax rate across Ireland.

The Orange marching season has begun in the North of Ireland and this

year sees the added Becks Asian about the flying the flags from

public holdings. Playing party politics with these issues is

dangerous and counter-productive stop there aren't many genuine

loyalists and unionists, including former combatants, working in

disadvantaged communities, who realise the risks and dangers

involved. They also know that it is the citizens from these

disadvantaged communities that but there are the brunt of what happens.

We have more in common than they realise and dialogue between them

and Sinn Fein is essential and imperative, challenging the witters,

or us to build alliances on social and economic issues with

working-class Unionist. -- challenging though it is. The

Protestant unionist and loyalist people are not going away. And Sinn

Fein does not want them to go away. They are part of what we are. We

have to get to know each other, we have two get to know each other

better and listen to each other and take heed of what is being said. I

commit our party to be part of these discussions. We must find solutions

to contentious issues and tackle economic disadvantage. That is the

only way to build a fairer society and that is what the vast majority

of people want. The tiny minorities who advocate violence have been

rejected. But there is still work to be done. Work to ensure -- work to

ensure that policing is nonpartisan and recent decisions by the Police

Service of Northern Ireland has failed this test. There are elements

within the Northern Ireland office who are uncomfortable with the new

dispensation. A Bill of Rights is long overdue and the continuing

imprisonment of Marian Price and Martin Corey is wrong. They should

be released. Other work needs to be advanced, including the creation of

a victim centre and truth and reconciliation process. Almost 100

years ago, the Tan War against British forces was deadly and

British, at the suburb or left bitterness and legacy still shapes

policy on this island. 77 Republicans were executed during

those terrible years. Among them there were six young men from the

West. Members of the Free State army of the Garter and civilians died as

well. There was never any process of truth and recovery reconciliation

after these events. Chewing the recent conflict, Garda and other

members of the state forces were killed by Republicans. Republicans

were killed as well. During the era of the heavy gang, many citizens

were brutally assaulted and innocents were imprisoned. There was

collusion between elements of the Irish establishment and the protests

system. Friends died and there were bombs in Dublin and Monaghan and

Dundalk and elsewhere. All of this needs to be faced up to. Sinn Fein

has argued for the establishment of an independent truth commission.

Those in leadership across Ireland and Britain need to be part of the

process, as do others. There can be no hierarchy of big ones and I and

others in the Sinn Fein leadership have met that Dems and victims

families. I am prepared to meet with big is families here if they believe

it would be helpful and I intend to do this in the near future. Irish

republicans will not shrink from our obligations to those who died from

the conflict in our country. Ireland is a great country. We are mighty

people. We are divided. We are partitioned. Imagine an end to these

divisions. Imagine and you agreed Ireland. -- a new agreed Ireland.

Imagine a democratically run society in the interests of citizens.

Republicanism means equal rights citizens, including citizens in

same-sex relationships. For ethnic minorities and for those of all

creeds and those of no creed. Are history is complete with challenges

of advocacy and great injustice and this is such a time. It is a time

for real leadership. A real Labour Party but the principle for real

leadership should not be in government with Fine Gael. -- with a

principle. If Fine Gael is set on and lamenting the enough for policy,

let them do that with the support of the enough ball. Whatever the case

for entry into coalition after the last election, there is now only one

principal position for Labour. -- the support of the fall. Stand by

working people and leave this government and leave it now! We are

internationalists and are in solidarity with people in struggle

throughout the globe. From this are - I want to send a message to South

Africa of love to Nelson Mandela. -- from this are -. Our people have

come through a lot. Brave men and women have shown the way. In three

years we celebrate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. This

government is contemplating all dosing the area around were street

into the ground in the interests of the private developer. I want to

commemorate the families who have highlighted this hugely important

issue. Every person with a sense of history or national pride will

oppose such shameful act of vandalism. This area of history

should be developed as a 1916 revolutionary quarter. What are they

ashamed of? The 19 16 lockout showed the spirit of the Dublin working

class. They chose to resist rather than submit. They showed the way. In

Ireland today, parents defending children with disabilities, and line

workers defending each other and vital public services, carers,

community workers and health workers, citizens who are standing

up for themselves and the elderly, the sick, particularly for young

people, they are showing the way. Sinn Fein believes in the people of

Ireland. Join us in building and new Republic! -- holding a new Republic.

Let us go from here refreshed and renewed to do just that! No going

backwards, only four were. -- only forwards.

Gerry Adams being given a standing ovation either delegates. There is

Martin McGuinness holding his hand and Mary Lou McDonald, the party

vice president in the middle. He linked at the end of his speech the

struggle of the Irish people a century ago to the struggles they

are facing now. It was a wide-ranging speech in which he

promised to build alliances with loyalists on social and economic

issues, to talk to big ones about the past. He also called on the