:00:27. > :00:32.-- welcome to live coverage of The Conference. The live address from
:00:33. > :00:36.Gerry Adams is coming up at 8:30pm and we will have bad for you in its
:00:37. > :00:40.entirety. Already today there have been keynote speeches from senior
:00:41. > :00:47.figures, and we will hear extracts from some of those during the
:00:48. > :00:51.programme. Welcome to viewers from the Parliament channel will be
:00:52. > :00:57.joining us. Mark Devonshire is in Wexford first, a word from our guest
:00:58. > :01:02.from Queens University, Rick Wilford. Thanks for being with us.
:01:03. > :01:06.We don't normally have these programmes in the evening, but Gerry
:01:07. > :01:10.Adams's speeches at a different time from the other leaders. It's been a
:01:11. > :01:18.challenging 12 months for Mr Adams and Sinn Fein, hasn't it? It
:01:19. > :01:23.certainly has. He's been criticised on political and personal grounds.
:01:24. > :01:28.There was an attempt yesterday by the party chairman to arrest the
:01:29. > :01:32.criticism and throw support behind his leadership. You can't escape the
:01:33. > :01:35.fact there has been some muttering about the future of his leadership
:01:36. > :01:45.as president. That is lurking in the background. I'm sure he will be
:01:46. > :01:48.given a rousing welcome, when he made the remarks to demonstrate that
:01:49. > :01:52.the party is behind him. He is going to be confident in that respect. The
:01:53. > :01:57.party will be completely with him, but what is he going to say? We had
:01:58. > :02:01.a preamble on Wednesday when he made a speech in relation to the debate
:02:02. > :02:05.on Northern Ireland when he talked about justice and equality, coming
:02:06. > :02:13.to terms with the past and a progressive future. We will have
:02:14. > :02:17.more of that in no doubt a few more swipes at the lack of political
:02:18. > :02:22.leadership by the Unionist party in Northern Ireland, especially with
:02:23. > :02:27.the Richard Haass and O'Sullivan talks and trying to resolve the
:02:28. > :02:35.difficulties over the past, flags and victims. We are in the teeth of
:02:36. > :02:40.an election, so no doubt there will be bold strokes called in relation
:02:41. > :02:46.to the likely Sinn Fein performance, north and south, as part of his
:02:47. > :02:51.speech. He had the line about the United Kingdom hanging by a thread,
:02:52. > :02:56.which was in conversation with Stephen Walker on Inside Politics.
:02:57. > :03:04.That is a bigger canvas for him to paint on. It is. It is never the
:03:05. > :03:11.case of England's difficulty as Ireland's opportunity, like in
:03:12. > :03:15.camera's speech, his call to people in England, Ireland and Wales, to
:03:16. > :03:27.tell people in Scotland to stay with a stash Cameron's speech. --
:03:28. > :03:35.Cameron's speech. The likelihood is it's going to be styled as Devo
:03:36. > :03:41.Max, and the likelihood the powers will be devolved further in Wales,
:03:42. > :03:49.so you have a fluidity in the United Kingdom, and it's no surprise that
:03:50. > :03:53.Sinn Fein and the other parties will make what they see as a
:03:54. > :03:58.opportunity. It is sharp and Freud on the part of the Nationalists in
:03:59. > :04:07.relation to the difficulties that the UK government is having. -- --
:04:08. > :04:11.schaedenfraude. Interesting to hear your thoughts as we will have at
:04:12. > :04:17.about 9pm, but let's join Mark Devonport. , evening, what has the
:04:18. > :04:24.mood been in Wexford over the last couple of days? Positive? I think
:04:25. > :04:29.basically positive. It is expectant at the moment. We are in the gods at
:04:30. > :04:34.Wexford Opera house. They say it's not over until the fat lady sings,
:04:35. > :04:38.and it is not over until the bearded man speaks here. That is what people
:04:39. > :04:45.are waiting for it goes Gerry Adams is due on at 8:30pm and will be
:04:46. > :04:51.going live on our airwaves and across RTE as well. At the moment I
:04:52. > :04:56.say expectant, but early in the day it was emotional because they
:04:57. > :05:04.welcomed Catherine Seely, the young councillor from Craig Abram who had
:05:05. > :05:08.faced online in to the invasion -- intimidation with her job at the
:05:09. > :05:11.Belfast boys model school. She was projected very much into the
:05:12. > :05:15.political spotlight as Martin McGuinness embraced and they made a
:05:16. > :05:19.play of the fact that if the roles had been reversed, Sinn Fein
:05:20. > :05:24.politicians, they claim, would behave very differently from the
:05:25. > :05:26.Unionists. There is every possibility the Gerry Adams will
:05:27. > :05:30.refer to the incident in his speech. What else do you think he will say?
:05:31. > :05:36.What is the big message likely to be? As ever with Gerry Adams's
:05:37. > :05:40.speeches, now that Sinn Fein is a real force on both sides of the
:05:41. > :05:46.border, he has to calibrate his speech for the two separate audience
:05:47. > :05:51.-- audiences. In relation to the north, the Richard Haass talks, the
:05:52. > :05:55.issues he thinks were left unresolved will have to be returned
:05:56. > :06:00.to. The same ideas will be on the table. And also an offer to talk to
:06:01. > :06:03.the Orange order who have featured in recent Sinn Fein speeches where
:06:04. > :06:07.they have attacked the Unionists, saying that the Orange order has
:06:08. > :06:11.been the tail wagging the dog. In relation to the South, again,
:06:12. > :06:15.opposition to what they see as the austerity policies of the current
:06:16. > :06:18.coalition. And probably a kickback against the notion that the
:06:19. > :06:22.coalition is putting forward that they have turned the corner, and
:06:23. > :06:25.things are getting better in terms of the bailout. Instead, Sinn Fein
:06:26. > :06:31.will say that this isn't a real recovery. Mark, thank you for now. I
:06:32. > :06:37.hope there is some kind of barrier behind you, it's a great shot, but
:06:38. > :06:41.it looks a bit precarious. Hopefully I will teeter on until the end of
:06:42. > :06:45.the programme at the very least. And as you can see, we are very much up
:06:46. > :06:51.in the gods, some would say the cheap seats. But we will hang on in
:06:52. > :06:56.here and now. If you do fall, lean forward, that's the thing to do. The
:06:57. > :07:02.first speaker to address the conference this morning was Martin
:07:03. > :07:07.McGuinness, and he said the current difficulties at month between Sinn
:07:08. > :07:17.Fein and the de-UPR real, and he hit out -- the de-UUP -- - DUP. He spoke
:07:18. > :07:22.out about Catherine Seely left the school after the intimidation. All
:07:23. > :07:27.through the year we have seen flag protest, language rights protest, an
:07:28. > :07:30.attempt by the Orange order to bully people from the unionist background
:07:31. > :07:36.who wished to learn the Irish language. Also a fear of cultural
:07:37. > :07:41.equality, a block on the international peace building and
:07:42. > :07:46.conflict resolution Centre, and the public failure of the unionist
:07:47. > :07:51.parties to sign up to the Haas proposals. My Irish identity is no
:07:52. > :07:55.threat to those who identify themselves as Unionists or British.
:07:56. > :08:00.In the north, there are two main allegiances. Pro-Irish and
:08:01. > :08:06.pro-British. Both deserve to be respected and no identity or culture
:08:07. > :08:14.is more worthy than another. Last year, in my home city of Derry,
:08:15. > :08:16.loyalist for the bands were participating and were warmly
:08:17. > :08:34.welcomed and applauded -- footbands. This enriches both our cultures and
:08:35. > :08:41.we were better for it. Recently, a motion was put to Derry City Council
:08:42. > :08:57.that it had the bid to be city of culture with the support of DUP and
:08:58. > :09:02.loyalist parties. I see how a spirit of Gerrit -- generosity can deliver
:09:03. > :09:06.for everyone. The challenge as Republicans we face is to articulate
:09:07. > :09:09.a vision of a united Ireland that will accommodate, safeguard and
:09:10. > :09:14.cherish the British identity. In the meantime, the challenge for
:09:15. > :09:19.political unionism is to demonstrate to Irish citizens in the North how
:09:20. > :09:22.they intend to accommodate, safeguard and cherish our identity.
:09:23. > :09:28.So far they have failed to grasp this challenge. And I appeal to the
:09:29. > :09:32.Unionists who wish to see progress to break free of the rejectionism
:09:33. > :09:36.and the negative forces and lead from the front. Because our
:09:37. > :09:41.communities are stronger together. I would like to make it clear that I
:09:42. > :09:46.support the right of the Orange order to parade. However, they must
:09:47. > :09:50.do it in a way that is respectful. We must be respectful to each other.
:09:51. > :09:54.The Orange order should reach out to their neighbours and they should
:09:55. > :09:57.engage in dialogue because only dialogue will resolve the
:09:58. > :10:03.difficulties that we see repeated each year. No one should be fearful
:10:04. > :10:08.of our combined cultures. The last ten years I have proactively
:10:09. > :10:15.supported the Orange order 's and the right of parade is in Derry.
:10:16. > :10:18.Respect, dialogue and a spirit of generosity has meant that Derry has
:10:19. > :10:24.been trouble-free for years during the marching season. The fear I
:10:25. > :10:29.speak about was also manifested in the past week or so with the
:10:30. > :10:39.disgraceful online abuse targeted against a young teacher and member
:10:40. > :10:49.of Sinn Fein our colleague Catherine Seeley. The forcing of Catherine
:10:50. > :10:53.from her job as a schoolteacher in north Belfast been motivated
:10:54. > :10:59.entirely by sectarian hatred and prejudice, and driven by an
:11:00. > :11:02.unrepresentative and nasty anti-peace process group of extreme
:11:03. > :11:08.loyalists. Their actions are absolutely contemptible. If
:11:09. > :11:13.situation was reversed, and young Protestant teacher who was also a
:11:14. > :11:18.member of the DUP was being forced from her job in a Catholic school, I
:11:19. > :11:34.would be at the door accompanying her to her work.
:11:35. > :11:44.I would challenge those directly behind the threats and do everything
:11:45. > :11:49.in my power to see them face down. So people will judge for themselves
:11:50. > :11:53.the response of unionist politicians to the attacks on Catherine Seeley.
:11:54. > :11:56.This is a time when people should rightly have expected a robust
:11:57. > :12:04.response from leaders within unionism. This is yet to come. But I
:12:05. > :12:09.have to say, I am absolutely heartened by the glowing and brief
:12:10. > :12:21.tributes that came from the pupils. They have shown courage and
:12:22. > :12:26.leadership. And I have to say, the local DUP MP, who is many years
:12:27. > :12:35.their senior, could learn a lot from them about leadership. Well, that
:12:36. > :12:38.was Martin McGuinness, and he then welcomed Catherine Seeley to that
:12:39. > :12:45.stage where she paid tribute to the students who had supported her. I
:12:46. > :12:49.want to draw particular attention to the underachievement amongst
:12:50. > :12:53.Protestant, working-class boys. Protestant, working-class boys are
:12:54. > :13:04.entitled to the same life prospects as everybody else.
:13:05. > :13:09.Politicians and educationalists who oppose the reform of the common
:13:10. > :13:14.funding formula are failing these children and need to be confronted
:13:15. > :13:17.and challenged. And they should answer directly to the students and
:13:18. > :13:24.children they claim to represent. And if they do, I am confident that
:13:25. > :13:29.they will learn what my own recent experience has demonstrated, that
:13:30. > :13:35.students can be much wiser, more mature, more responsible and more
:13:36. > :13:49.respectful than some who claim to speak on their behalf.
:13:50. > :13:58.In the past few weeks, in my role as a teacher, I have been subjected to
:13:59. > :14:02.a campaign of sectarian intimidation. I have already
:14:03. > :14:11.expressed my warm thanks to all who have offered me support. I want to
:14:12. > :14:18.take this opportunity to publicly send a message of gratitude to those
:14:19. > :14:27.pupils of the school in north Belfast who have courageously
:14:28. > :14:40.offered me their full support. APPLAUSE. They are a testimony to
:14:41. > :14:47.the feelings that should permeate, not just education, but every aspect
:14:48. > :14:54.of society. They inspire hope and confidence in me for the future. Now
:14:55. > :14:57.let's go back to the conference centre and our political editor who
:14:58. > :15:05.has been joined by a couple of guests. I have my hand to my ear not
:15:06. > :15:10.because I am just about to break into song in the opera house but
:15:11. > :15:17.because it is really quite loud here and I am trying my best to you you.
:15:18. > :15:21.I am joined by two members, the party candidate for the European
:15:22. > :15:29.elections and a member of the Senate. First of all, viewers have
:15:30. > :15:33.just seen Catherine Seeley speak to the conference earlier, I know
:15:34. > :15:40.Martin McGuinness said the response of the Unionist contrast it with how
:15:41. > :15:45.he would respond to this but the DUP did release a statement saying no
:15:46. > :15:49.one should respond to any kind of threats. What more should he have
:15:50. > :15:57.done? What Martin McGuinness would have done, he would have went to the
:15:58. > :16:03.teacher's door and escorted her to work. That is the kind of leadership
:16:04. > :16:05.that people who have heard Martin McGuinness say that would have known
:16:06. > :16:15.that exactly what he would have done. That is the kind of leadership
:16:16. > :16:20.we want to see from unionism and unfortunately it is not the kind of
:16:21. > :16:24.leadership that the whole of the North is witnessing. They are
:16:25. > :16:30.looking on, scratching their heads and asking what is unionism at? When
:16:31. > :16:38.we looked at the Haass talks and the opportunity is missed. Making the
:16:39. > :16:43.whole business of Catherine Seeley centrestage, weren't you supporting
:16:44. > :16:51.-- reporting it for political purposes? Now, it she is an
:16:52. > :16:55.activist, a Sinn Fein activist with loads of experience. For any
:16:56. > :17:00.impartial observer watching this, they would have to say we have had
:17:01. > :17:04.an excellent conference but the level of experience and view the
:17:05. > :17:13.other we have had in the room, Catherine Seeley is part of that.
:17:14. > :17:21.That is just our party leader making -- getting a round of applause.
:17:22. > :17:25.APPLAUSE. That is just ten coming into the room, you can imagine what
:17:26. > :17:31.it will be like when he comes to the stage. There has been an accusation
:17:32. > :17:37.that Unionists have put off any kind of resolution because of elections,
:17:38. > :17:40.do you believe that? You will be in an election campaign for this party
:17:41. > :17:46.so you will be making the same kind of calculations? If that was the
:17:47. > :17:50.case the same would apply to us, we are up for a deal and the
:17:51. > :17:57.compromise, we know it takes courage to compromise. Haas seven is not a
:17:58. > :18:01.Republican document but Sinn Fein have looked at this document and
:18:02. > :18:05.said we did not get what we wanted in regard to the independent truth
:18:06. > :18:09.commission but what was on the table was enough or us and we wanted the
:18:10. > :18:16.other parties to have that same kind of courage. At the moment Sinn Fein
:18:17. > :18:21.is riding high in the polls south of the border but to some extent argued
:18:22. > :18:30.depending on things being pretty bad in terms of the economy? Well it be
:18:31. > :18:35.tough medicine that is beginning to work? I do not believe so, Sinn Fein
:18:36. > :18:40.is in favour of economic recovery, we want recovery that works for
:18:41. > :18:45.everybody. What is wrong with what is happening at the moment? We still
:18:46. > :18:52.have mass unemployment, forced immigration with those of people
:18:53. > :18:59.leaving every week, every month. Families cannot afford to pay basic
:19:00. > :19:04.bills, put food on the table. We want a real recovery underpinned by
:19:05. > :19:09.job creation, investment and helping struggling families. If you look at
:19:10. > :19:13.the scandals we have seen with pop-up payments and big salaries for
:19:14. > :19:23.those that the top, even in charities, it is Sinn Fein leading
:19:24. > :19:32.the charge. We are challenging and providing a real alternative, that
:19:33. > :19:39.is resonated with supporters. I want you to talk about pylons, it affects
:19:40. > :19:44.people in the North/ South interconnector, should that go ahead
:19:45. > :19:49.even if they cannot afford to put them underground? What we want is
:19:50. > :19:57.for the glib to be expanded but also to use renewable energy. We do not
:19:58. > :20:02.believe in extending the pylons to blight and blot the landscape. We
:20:03. > :20:08.want at consistent position. We do not want to see these unsightly
:20:09. > :20:14.pylons put anywhere. I think we will have to leave it there and let you
:20:15. > :20:19.take your position on the stage. We will hear more from him shortly.
:20:20. > :20:26.Gerry Adams is in the conference hall as well. Let's hear more from
:20:27. > :20:30.my guest in the studio, picking up on that conversation with Martina
:20:31. > :20:38.Anderson who is the Sinn Fein candidate for the forthcoming
:20:39. > :20:44.European elections. She was brought in for Barbara De Bruin who was
:20:45. > :20:49.unwell during her term. There are we with this? How do you think they are
:20:50. > :20:58.facing up to it? The add any position. Last time, in 2009, the
:20:59. > :21:02.top the European Parliament Paul. People will remember that the DUP
:21:03. > :21:09.candidate was elected without reaching the quarter. This time
:21:10. > :21:14.there is a fragmentation within unionism, there could be up to as
:21:15. > :21:20.many as six. The margin of victory that Sinn Fein secured in 2009 is
:21:21. > :21:25.likely to be extended. I would expect her to be re-elected and
:21:26. > :21:32.topped the poll again and maybe actually extend the lead that they
:21:33. > :21:35.have over the Ulster Unionist. Council elections, they are
:21:36. > :21:39.different, different from the have been in the past as well because we
:21:40. > :21:44.will have a different number of councils in future but we do you
:21:45. > :21:50.think Sinn Fein is with that? Again presumably going into that in a
:21:51. > :21:57.strong situation. They are. Last time they were 2.5 points behind the
:21:58. > :22:00.DUP, that is not necessarily a very sure did because there are fewer
:22:01. > :22:06.District Council this time and fewer local councillors to be elected. It
:22:07. > :22:10.is difficult to call but I cannot see the Sinn Fein votes lapping much
:22:11. > :22:18.at local government level. On the other hand, I do not think it will
:22:19. > :22:24.grow much. Maybe the Sinn Fein vote in the North has actually plateaued
:22:25. > :22:27.a bit. They are certainly showing growth north and south among
:22:28. > :22:35.first-time voters but I would not expect them to slip much. Beer was a
:22:36. > :22:44.lot of talk about Unionist politicians and what the Republicans
:22:45. > :22:46.regard as a lack of leadership. The broadest and Unionist loyalist
:22:47. > :22:52.community are more articulate and visionary and wired to the peace
:22:53. > :22:58.process than you give them credit for. They are not being led by the
:22:59. > :23:01.laptop warriors or the flight protesters but sadly, very sadly,
:23:02. > :23:10.they are not being led by you either. The leaders of unionism have
:23:11. > :23:13.become deafened by the shouts of no surrender and blinded by the fires
:23:14. > :23:22.of hatred. Sinn Fein is not going away. We are not going away and they
:23:23. > :23:27.will never be a return to a 1-party state in the north again. As an
:23:28. > :23:33.Irish republican I commit to sharing power with my Unionist neighbours. I
:23:34. > :23:39.commit to taking uncomfortable journeys to build peace and
:23:40. > :23:43.understanding. I want to work with the DUP in a power-sharing
:23:44. > :23:49.executive. For power-sharing to succeed, the DUP have to want to
:23:50. > :23:55.work with Sinn Fein as equals. That is what the DUP signed up to,
:23:56. > :24:00.Stormont of old has gone. All that remains is the building. The new
:24:01. > :24:07.Stormont is built on the quality. The only power is power-sharing. The
:24:08. > :24:13.DUP must read from the front rather than being led by the few. They must
:24:14. > :24:17.give voice to the many among the Protestant loyalist community who
:24:18. > :24:21.support peace and one power-sharing and a better future for their young
:24:22. > :24:27.people. This was never going to be an easy journey. There are enemies
:24:28. > :24:36.of peace and union in many quarters. However, there is far more support
:24:37. > :24:39.for peace, change and leadership. We need to continue this epic journey
:24:40. > :24:49.together, safe in the knowledge there is no reverse gear. That was
:24:50. > :24:53.the education minister addressing the conference earlier today, let us
:24:54. > :25:02.go back to our political editor who has been joined by Alex Maskey. It
:25:03. > :25:09.is a little bit quieter now than in earlier, I have got Alex Maskey with
:25:10. > :25:13.me. You have been majoring on the welfare issue, it is clear that is
:25:14. > :25:19.an issue where you have to look over your shoulder at the party in Dublin
:25:20. > :25:23.and the South generally, you do not want to make a decision which can
:25:24. > :25:31.read your critics to say Sinn Fein in the North are implementing
:25:32. > :25:35.limited policies. We are opposed to the kind of cuts agenda which is
:25:36. > :25:41.imposed by London or Dublin. We have made that clear, I have done that
:25:42. > :25:46.this afternoon again. The difference in the South is simply that the
:25:47. > :25:54.Irish government has a choice which in our view our bad choices. We have
:25:55. > :25:59.opposed those measures and made credible alternative proposals. In
:26:00. > :26:04.the north we are having a cuts agenda similar to what is proposed
:26:05. > :26:07.by London. We are trying to challenge this government and do
:26:08. > :26:14.what we can to tackle the cuts agenda, it exactly -- is exactly the
:26:15. > :26:19.same position north and south. We have to work out how best we can
:26:20. > :26:23.improve this welfare reform but we can only do it with all the other
:26:24. > :26:32.parties challenging this government directly. I repeated my challenge,
:26:33. > :26:36.work with us to get a better result. The DUP say you have already
:26:37. > :26:41.negotiated as good a package as you will get and your party is divided
:26:42. > :26:45.between the sensible line who think it has gone as far as it can go and
:26:46. > :26:55.the others who blog because of the concern of how it will be seen in an
:26:56. > :27:00.all Ireland perspective. -- blog. I do not believe we have got as good a
:27:01. > :27:09.change to the Bill and I am putting that back to the DUP, had they had
:27:10. > :27:13.their way they would have imposed the bill unchanged a year ago. We
:27:14. > :27:19.believe we can make more changes, our only interest is to tackle the
:27:20. > :27:27.cuts whether from Dublin or London and I am saying the DUP should join
:27:28. > :27:33.us not simply settle for what the British government are dictating.
:27:34. > :27:38.The social development Minister has been asking questions whether there
:27:39. > :27:42.is a policy issue behind this. There is no policy issue because the
:27:43. > :27:47.people you are talking about remain in the party. Our party is
:27:48. > :27:55.completely reunited on the cuts agenda. I am more than happy, I
:27:56. > :28:01.think he should look around his own benches that the discomfort among
:28:02. > :28:08.his own MLAs having to impose measures that they would have been
:28:09. > :28:12.happy to impose a year ago. Are you confident that you have negotiated
:28:13. > :28:17.to a point that there will be no bedroom tax in Northern Ireland?
:28:18. > :28:24.That is the agreement we have reached. The agreement and changes
:28:25. > :28:27.we have agreed have to be put in legislation so we are working to
:28:28. > :28:37.still make more improvements to the bill. Thank you, back to the studio.
:28:38. > :28:43.Gerry Adams due on stage shortly and we will cross over when he makes his
:28:44. > :28:47.way to the platform. The point made is that Sinn Fein is an all Ireland
:28:48. > :28:53.party but it has to play two separate electorates. Absolutely.
:28:54. > :28:56.That point is reinforced in the south where Sinn Fein is in
:28:57. > :29:06.opposition so there is more attitude and freedom. So they can critique
:29:07. > :29:09.the current government policies. They are the constraints where they
:29:10. > :29:13.find it hard to negotiate, so they are a bit freer. What we will be
:29:14. > :29:19.looking for is to see what extent there is a seamless flow between his
:29:20. > :29:25.North and South aspects of his speech, whether it is seamless,
:29:26. > :29:29.clunky, but I guess they will push the view that they need
:29:30. > :29:35.redistribution, social justice, emphasis on equality and diversity.
:29:36. > :29:38.One of the refrains going through the party in the last period has
:29:39. > :29:46.been the point about leadership. There has been the critique of the
:29:47. > :29:51.unionism where the parties are not showing the leadership to see off
:29:52. > :29:58.the barking dogs which seemingly dictate what the leaderships are
:29:59. > :30:06.saying. That means, I suspect, the pressure to live in San demonstrate
:30:07. > :30:08.solidarity -- to events and demonstrate solidarity behind Adams
:30:09. > :30:15.and Sinn Fein is more than ever. They need that solidarity and common
:30:16. > :30:21.front where they critique the unionist for being absent. Declan
:30:22. > :30:33.kidney made the point, because he called people to stand square behind
:30:34. > :30:36.Gerry Adams. -- Kearney. And to stop the criticism from outside Sinn
:30:37. > :30:43.Fein. We are just watching Gerry Adams stepped up to the platform. As
:30:44. > :30:48.you suggested, he has a standing ovation before he spoke. Let's hear
:30:49. > :30:53.what he has to say. It looks as if he is about to make a start. We
:30:54. > :30:59.expect him to talk up to almost 9pm. Let's hear what he has to say.
:31:00. > :31:18.A very special welcome to friends of Sinn Fein from the USA, Canada,
:31:19. > :31:24.Australia, comrades from South Africa, cut -- Palestine, Cuba, the
:31:25. > :31:29.Basque country, Britain and all of our followed dignitaries. -- fellow
:31:30. > :32:12.dignitaries. (HE SPEAKS GAELIC). I want to send solidarity greetings
:32:13. > :32:13.to the family of Councillor John Davey who was killed by British
:32:14. > :32:27.forces 25 years ago next Friday. We also remember our friend, Father
:32:28. > :32:33.Alex Reid, the chaplain to the peace process who has passed away since we
:32:34. > :32:37.last met. I want to send very special greetings to John Downie,
:32:38. > :32:48.currently exiled in London, and to all other ODRs.
:32:49. > :32:59.A special welcome to the campaigns, and solidarity that family of Pat
:33:00. > :33:09.Finegan, and all victims of the conflict.
:33:10. > :33:17.Remember back in the day when it was promised we would be governed
:33:18. > :33:22.differently? Remember they promised to transform the political culture
:33:23. > :33:29.and end cronyism. They promised a strategic investment bank, and end
:33:30. > :33:35.to open only grams, they said they would not cut child benefit, though
:33:36. > :33:38.citizens with disabilities, especially children. What have they
:33:39. > :33:45.delivered? Cuts to living standards and vital public service, an
:33:46. > :33:50.unsustainable banking system, cuts to people with disabilities,
:33:51. > :33:59.unemployment at 12.4% with 179,000 long-term unemployed. Ten people
:34:00. > :34:06.every hour leaving the state. Ireland under attack with the
:34:07. > :34:10.close-down of Garda stations, post offices and schools. A households in
:34:11. > :34:15.mortgage distress and homelessness on the increase. -- hundred and
:34:16. > :34:21.40,000 households. Health service that crumbling. Charges they go
:34:22. > :34:26.straight into the Cumberland -- pockets of consultants. No strategic
:34:27. > :34:28.plans for flood defences or adequate financial aid for households who
:34:29. > :34:30.cannot get insurance because of where they live. That is Labour's
:34:31. > :34:50.way. Lots of money for consultants,
:34:51. > :34:54.investors, bankers and politicians, but little for disabled children.
:34:55. > :34:59.Most citizens do understand the difficult choices must be made, but
:35:00. > :35:00.what they resent and what Sinn Fein resent is the fairway that this is
:35:01. > :35:17.being done. Instead, our society is increasingly
:35:18. > :35:19.polarised between haves and have-nots, ruled over by a
:35:20. > :35:24.government that is increasingly arrogant. The arrogance that
:35:25. > :35:34.dismisses concerns about fracking, the arrogance that cuts the
:35:35. > :35:37.allowances of home helpers and hikes up prescription charges. The
:35:38. > :35:42.arrogance that ignores community health concerns at the construction
:35:43. > :35:45.of pylons. Does Pat Robert really believe that people will be formed
:35:46. > :35:48.by a meaningless pre-election promise from him? -- were fooled by
:35:49. > :36:05.a meaningless pre-election promise? Let me be very clear, Sinn Fein will
:36:06. > :36:09.not make election promises that we cannot keep, and Sinn Fein will keep
:36:10. > :36:34.every commitment that we make. Today, this very day, 240 people
:36:35. > :36:46.have left Ireland. That is 240 devastated families. And Kenny, our
:36:47. > :37:00.Taoiseach, dismisses this as a desire to travel.
:37:01. > :37:09.For some parents, all of their children have left. They are the
:37:10. > :37:16.Skype generation, scattering, given the final poise -- Bush out of the
:37:17. > :37:21.-- push out of the country by dole queues. These people and their
:37:22. > :37:24.families know exactly who is responsible for forced emigration.
:37:25. > :37:28.That is why there is no government task force on immigration. That is
:37:29. > :37:29.why there is no boat for the diaspora that would give them a
:37:30. > :37:48.stake in the country -- vote. Jobs can and should be created. That
:37:49. > :37:52.is how we will bring our young people home, and Sinn Fein wants our
:37:53. > :38:05.young people back here in Ireland where they belong.
:38:06. > :38:12.Sinn Fein also stands firmly for a national public health service. This
:38:13. > :38:18.states -- State's two-tiered health services at breaking point. We
:38:19. > :38:23.oppose cuts and support those who make a stand, those like communities
:38:24. > :38:26.with the absence of a proper ambulance service, the difference
:38:27. > :38:29.between life and death. Patients waiting years for procedures because
:38:30. > :38:32.there aren't enough doctors or nurses to cope with demand. The
:38:33. > :38:43.children waiting for cochlear implants or medical cards.
:38:44. > :38:53.James Rennie is letting patients and their families down. Let me be clear
:38:54. > :39:02.about this, our leader might be tempted to move James Rennie in the
:39:03. > :39:05.reshuffle, but Enda, that is not enough. James Rennie has to go, but
:39:06. > :39:22.this government has to go with him. The government isn't just failing on
:39:23. > :39:26.the economy and public services. Look at what it is doing to the
:39:27. > :39:37.language, to the rights of the speaking and survival of our native
:39:38. > :39:40.language. The resignation is a damning indictment of labour. Looks
:39:41. > :39:44.what it's doing to the arts. Despite all the potential and contribution
:39:45. > :39:48.to the economy and society are struggling in the face of
:39:49. > :39:53.substantial cuts. There is little commitment to their development. And
:39:54. > :39:58.the debacle over the Limerick city of culture highlights this. The arts
:39:59. > :40:06.are an easy target, that this is short-sighted. The renowned artist,
:40:07. > :40:09.Robert Balla, said that this government is one of the worst for
:40:10. > :40:14.the arts in the history of the sake -- state. He is right. A community
:40:15. > :40:19.without a thriving arts and cultural life is not a community at all. The
:40:20. > :40:24.arts must be valued, promoted and their potential built upon, because
:40:25. > :40:27.they enrich the lives of citizens, encourage social good and lift the
:40:28. > :40:33.spirit. They show us what we are, what we could, and what we should
:40:34. > :40:37.be. Many of the problem is that Ireland faces today are a direct
:40:38. > :40:41.result of a toxic political culture that arose from the
:40:42. > :40:47.counterrevolution that followed the 1916 rising. The
:40:48. > :40:53.counterrevolutionaries who succeeded Michael Collins, like their
:40:54. > :40:57.contemporary is in the North, put together the two conservative state
:40:58. > :41:02.created. In this part of Ireland this toxic culture led to the abuses
:41:03. > :41:05.of power and planning, and the banks, and church and state run
:41:06. > :41:11.institutions, and in the health service. An elite, politically
:41:12. > :41:16.represented by the leaderships, often supported by the Labour Party,
:41:17. > :41:21.oversaw a culture of corruption and golden circles. These are the same
:41:22. > :41:25.interest that collapsed the economy here six years ago. This corrupt
:41:26. > :41:33.political culture led to scandals, the nearest gamble, Bethany home and
:41:34. > :41:40.the cases like Louise O'Keefe, pursued all the way to Europe by
:41:41. > :41:45.this state which also intimidated other victims to drop left court
:41:46. > :41:57.cases. -- their court cases. -- the Neary scandal. This same culture led
:41:58. > :42:03.to other scandals in CRC. Sinn Fein is committed to taking on this toxic
:42:04. > :42:11.culture. That is what our senators, MPs, El LA, councillors and activist
:42:12. > :42:13.do every single day -- MLAs. And that is what Mary McDonnell is doing
:42:14. > :42:23.on the Public Accounts Committee, holding them to account.
:42:24. > :42:30.Being in government is about making choices. In the Northern executive,
:42:31. > :42:38.Sinn Fein chose not to impose water charges. Sinn Fein invested millions
:42:39. > :42:41.in new school bills and capital projects. We chose to protect
:42:42. > :42:45.payments to young people in education, and we refuse to raise
:42:46. > :42:51.student fees or impose prescription charges. There are countless other
:42:52. > :42:55.difficult but positive choices Sinn Fein in government is making in the
:42:56. > :43:01.north, even without the necessary fiscal powers. So don't be fooled by
:43:02. > :43:06.Labour or any others, who claim they don't have any choice in the
:43:07. > :43:08.decisions they are making. Martin McGuinness and our team of ministers
:43:09. > :43:32.have shown what is possible with real political leadership.
:43:33. > :43:42.Let's be clear, a Bill of Rights, , these things are not going away.
:43:43. > :43:55.Let's also be clear that these issues will be resolved. There may
:43:56. > :44:00.be obstacles but be sure of one thing, change will not be stopped. I
:44:01. > :44:06.am happy to meet with the Orange order at any time to discuss these
:44:07. > :44:11.matters. I want to see the Orange order treating its catholic
:44:12. > :44:17.neighbours with respect. I want to see it treated with respect. Orange
:44:18. > :44:26.is one of our country's national colours. The Orange order is one of
:44:27. > :44:30.our national traditions. We want to live together in peace and respect
:44:31. > :44:37.and with tolerance, from everyone for everyone. Of course, for those
:44:38. > :44:43.trying to resist the change, they should reflect. The tide of history
:44:44. > :44:56.and for those who seek to build a peaceful and inclusive future.
:44:57. > :45:04.Ireland North and South is changing. SPEAKS IRISH. Sinn Fein is a united
:45:05. > :45:14.Ireland party, others have a different view. We give all citizens
:45:15. > :45:24.the say on the future. Isn't it a very limited vision that looks to
:45:25. > :45:29.limit any part of Ireland even in a semidetached week? Surely we have
:45:30. > :45:34.the right to govern ourselves, green, white and orange. Why would
:45:35. > :45:40.any Democrat refused to let the people have their say on this? Are
:45:41. > :45:46.they refused -- a feed of the people, the future, democracy? As
:45:47. > :45:50.Ian Paisley famously talked Martin McGuinness, we do not need any
:45:51. > :46:07.English minister to rule us. APPLAUSE. This conference has
:46:08. > :46:14.proposals to protect and promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
:46:15. > :46:30.transgender citizens. Equality is for everyone and that must include
:46:31. > :46:47.the LG BD community. APPLAUSE. Homophobia and -- in Russia or
:46:48. > :47:03.Ireland must be rejected. APPLAUSE. This conference also promotes and
:47:04. > :47:12.protects the rights of workers. SPEAKS IRISH. If we are serious
:47:13. > :47:18.about changing this country, the left needs to come together around
:47:19. > :47:20.viable alternative policies and to take on the conservative
:47:21. > :47:26.establishment which brought the economy to its knees and created the
:47:27. > :47:31.toxic culture we are trying to break free from. The Conservatives and
:47:32. > :47:39.right wingers consistently reunite around our issues. Those who have a
:47:40. > :47:52.pigeon which is progressive, we must do the same. -- a vision. We must
:47:53. > :47:56.protect public services and invest in jobs. Real change also means
:47:57. > :48:05.tackling low pay and zero hours contracts. It also means protecting
:48:06. > :48:11.job creation. It means abolishing the local property tax and improving
:48:12. > :48:17.vital public services, tackling excessive wages at the top of the
:48:18. > :48:26.public sector, the wages of TDs and ministers. APPLAUSE. Their is a lot
:48:27. > :48:35.to be hopeful about, 1-party rule in the North has gone. 2.5 party rule
:48:36. > :48:48.in this state is going also. APPLAUSE. However well baby group,
:48:49. > :48:57.however well be redeployed themselves -- regroup, Fiona Foyle
:48:58. > :49:07.will never again be the dominant force the one where. -- once were.
:49:08. > :49:14.Sinn Fein is now a major player in both states in this island with
:49:15. > :49:48.policies, objectives and expanding organisation which transcends
:49:49. > :49:52.position. SPEAKS IRISH. APPLAUSE. In May, in European and local
:49:53. > :49:59.government elections, north and south, you can play your part. For
:50:00. > :50:02.the first time ever, every boater in every County Council on this island
:50:03. > :50:10.will have the opportunity to vote for Sinn Fein. In this centenary
:50:11. > :50:27.year, Sinn Fein is running more female candidates than ever before.
:50:28. > :50:32.-- voter. May I single out and salute Councillor Catherine Seeley
:50:33. > :50:45.who is standing up for women and for Sinn Fein against sectarianism.
:50:46. > :50:48.APPLAUSE. They will be over 350 Republican candidates across
:50:49. > :50:55.Ireland, each of the committed boys for their community putting
:50:56. > :51:03.people's interests ahead of the party and government. Let's not
:51:04. > :51:08.forget successive governments here, including this one, have centralised
:51:09. > :51:13.power and emasculated local democracy. I want to commend the
:51:14. > :51:16.hundreds of local Sinn Fein representatives who have done
:51:17. > :51:34.sterling work at local level for decades. SPEAKS IRISH.. Our EU
:51:35. > :51:42.candidates, MEP Medinah Anderson in the north, Matt Hardy in the
:51:43. > :51:48.Midlands and North West, others in Dublin and the South constituency
:51:49. > :51:55.have offered the representation people have failed to get from other
:51:56. > :52:09.MPs. MEPs will fight for the best deal for Ireland on every single
:52:10. > :52:14.issue. Since we last met the world and in particular South Africa, I
:52:15. > :52:22.welcome our comrades from South Africa here today, the world and
:52:23. > :52:33.South Africa lost a great leader. When Madiba, Nelson Mandela... He
:52:34. > :52:41.was a friend of Ireland and Sinn Fein. Richard McAuley and I were
:52:42. > :52:48.greatly honoured to represent Irish republicans at Madiba's funeral and
:52:49. > :53:11.be part of the guard of honour. APPLAUSE. SPEAKS IRISH. Madiba's
:53:12. > :53:15.qualities of leadership and peace building are needed more than ever
:53:16. > :53:20.across the globe, particularly in the middle east. The current
:53:21. > :53:29.Palestinian/ Israeli these processes not going to deliver, at this time,
:53:30. > :53:42.and outcome. The people of Palestine have not been upheld. That is a
:53:43. > :53:46.shame. APPLAUSE. I welcome the Palestinian ambassador here today, I
:53:47. > :53:58.welcome the ambassador for Cuba. APPLAUSE. Since tell those all that
:53:59. > :54:01.these conflicts can only be resolved if the international community
:54:02. > :54:06.upholds their own laws and international laws and takes
:54:07. > :54:14.positive focused initiatives to find revolutions -- resolutions. That
:54:15. > :54:23.includes places where the suffering is unacceptable. The big powers at
:54:24. > :54:28.the EU are moving gradually towards greater militarisation. Sinn Fein
:54:29. > :54:40.opposes this and we will go bust lead defend and promote Irish
:54:41. > :54:47.neutrality. APPLAUSE. Margaretta D'Arcy is in prison over this issue.
:54:48. > :54:58.Margaretta is not a criminal, Margaretta should be freed
:54:59. > :55:01.immediately. APPLAUSE. Sinn Fein is the only credible and real
:55:02. > :55:08.opposition in this house. We have clear positives and alternatives to
:55:09. > :55:17.the austerity embraced by the cosy consensus. Our message is clear, now
:55:18. > :55:22.is the time for change. It is time to rebuild our economy and society,
:55:23. > :55:28.this government must give families a break. The next budget must give
:55:29. > :55:33.something back and ease the tax burden on working people. It must
:55:34. > :55:41.remove the property tax and promote investment in jobs. Politics is
:55:42. > :55:51.about delivery for citizens, delivery for people. On the 11th day
:55:52. > :55:56.of his hunger strike, he wrote their is no equality in a society which
:55:57. > :56:01.stands upon the political and economic of rare or lead the
:56:02. > :56:07.strongest make it good or survive. It is about standing up for citizens
:56:08. > :56:10.and their rights. The Irish people have injured much throughout our
:56:11. > :56:16.history and we have come through it all. Ireland is a great country, the
:56:17. > :56:21.Irish people, we are now mean people. We will overcome the
:56:22. > :56:34.challenges and prosper and working together, we will rebuild this great
:56:35. > :56:50.nation. Be sure of this. APPLAUSE. Be sure of this as was said, we
:56:51. > :57:17.shall overcome. APPLAUSE. Let's make 2014 the year of change. SPEAKS
:57:18. > :57:24.IRISH. APPLAUSE. A standing ovation, no surprise they are, for Gerry
:57:25. > :57:29.Adams. Delivering his party leader speech to the party faithful. I am
:57:30. > :57:35.sure this will be a sustained and enthusiastic response. It is
:57:36. > :57:40.received and acknowledged by Gerry Adams and his party colleagues join
:57:41. > :57:45.him their onstage and congratulate him. The warm embrace between him
:57:46. > :57:54.and Martin McGuinness. What did you make of that? A very balanced
:57:55. > :57:58.speech, very asymmetric. We talked about the prospect of how he is
:57:59. > :58:04.going to strike some balance between north and south. Although we lot of
:58:05. > :58:10.his speech was tilted to the south, about a page and a half of his
:58:11. > :58:17.speech had been North mentioned. There was some but not so much about
:58:18. > :58:22.being in government in the north? You might did use maybe they feel
:58:23. > :58:27.more comfortable in opposition, there was a part where he talked
:58:28. > :58:31.about the left regrouping and offering an alternative to the
:58:32. > :58:36.Coalition Government in the south. That could be interpreted as a sign
:58:37. > :58:40.of weakness. They have much more of an electoral challenge their than
:58:41. > :58:46.they do in the north where they are much more secure. It will be
:58:47. > :58:50.interesting to hear what his political opponents made of it.
:58:51. > :58:59.Thank you for being with us. That visit from this week's edition of
:59:00. > :59:03.The Conference. From me and the team, goodbye.