Gerry Adams Presidential Address to
Sinn Féin Ard Fheis 2014
A chairde,
Tá failte romhaibh uilig chuig Ard Fheis Shinn Féin.
A
special Céad Míle Fáilte to Friends of Sinn
Féin from the USA, Canada and Australia; to our comrades from South
Africa, Palestine, Cuba, the Basque country, Britain and to all our foreign
dignitaries.
Ta mé an-sásta a bheith anseo i Loch
Garman.
Áit in ar chruthaigh saoránaigh éirí
amach seacht déag nócha a hocht a phoblacht féin. Loch Garman de Éirí Amach
naoi déag sé déag. Loch Garman, áit dúchais an t-óglach Ed O’Brien.
Le stair chomh saibhir le sin tá Sinn
Féin an-sásta a bheith anseo do ár Ard Fheis.
I want to send solidarity greetings
to the family of Sinn Fein Councillor, John Davey, who was killed by British
forces 25 years ago next Friday.
We also remember our friend Fr Alec
Reid the chaplain to the Peace Process, who has passed away since we last met.
I also want to send greetings to John
Downey, currently exiled in London and to the other OTRs.
A welcome to the Ballymurphy massacre
campaign and other campaigns. Solidarity also, to the family of Pat Finucane
and to all other victims of the conflict.
Remember, back in the day, when Fine
Gael and Labour promised to govern differently from Fianna Fail?
They promised to transform political
culture and to end cronyism.
They promised a Strategic Investment
Bank
The end of upward only rents
They said they would not cut child
benefit.
They said they would not cut supports
for those citizens with disabilities.
What have they delivered?
Cuts to living standards and vital
public services.
An unsustainable banking debt for
decades to come.
Cuts to supports for people with
disabilities.
Unemployment at 12.4%, with 179,000
long-term unemployed.
Ten people emigrating every hour.
Rural Ireland under attack, with the
closure of Garda stations, post offices and schools.
140,000 householders in Mortgage
distress.
And homelessness on the increase.
A health service that is crumbling.
A Family Home Tax.
Water Charges which go straight into
the pockets of consultants.
No strategic plan for flood defences.
Or adequate financial aid for
householders who can’t get insurance because of where they live.
That’s Labour’s way.
That’s Fine Gael’s way.
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile.
Lots of money for consultants,
investors, bankers and politicians but little for disabled children.
Most citizens do understand that
difficult choices must be made.
But what they resent is the unfair
way this is being done.
Tá a fhios ag daoine go bhfuil
bealach eile ann. Bealach níos fearr. Bealach atá bunaithe ar chomhionannas.
Instead, our society has become
increasingly polarized between ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’, ruled over by a Government
which is increasingly arrogant.
The arrogance that dismisses concerns
about Fracking.
The arrogance that breaches pay caps
for Ministerial advisors but cuts the Carer’s Allowance, Home-Help hours and
hikes up prescription charges.
The arrogance that ignores community
health concerns at the construction of Pylons.
And does Pat Rabbitte really believe
that the people will be fooled by a meaningless pre-election promise?
An ceapann an rialtas go bhfuil siad
ag cuir an dallamullóg ar an pobal?
Let me be very clear. Sinn Fein will
not make election promises that we cannot keep and Sinn Fein will keep every
commitment that we make.
That’s a real democratic revolution.
Today, this day, 240 people have left
Ireland. That is 240 devastated families.
Enda Kenny, our Taoiseach insults all
of these families when he dismisses this as the desire of young people to
travel.
Tá na daoine óga seo ag imirt peile,
camógaíochta, agus iomanaíochta, san Astráil, i gCeanada, sna Stáit Aontaithe,
i Sasana, agus in áiteanna eile ar fud an domhain.
For some parents, all their children
have left. They are the Skype generation, the scattering — given a final push
out of the country by targeted dole cuts and the exploitation
of Jobsbridge.
These 400,000 people and their families
know exactly who is responsible for their forced emigration.
That’s why there is no Government
Taskforce on emigration.
That’s why there is no vote for the
diaspora that would give them a stake in our country.
Gan aon obair anseo, ní bheidh daoine
óga ábalta fanacht. Tá siad fágtha gan mórán dóchas, agus gan aon rogha eile
ach bogadh thar sáille.
But jobs can and should be created.
That’s how we will bring our young people home.
And Sinn Fein wants our young people
back here in Ireland where they belong.
Sinn Féin also firmly
stands for a national public health service.
This state’s two-tier health service
is at breaking point.
We oppose cuts to the health budget
and support all those who are making a stand.
Like communities where the absence of
a proper ambulance service is the difference between life and death.
Like patients waiting years for
procedures because there aren’t enough nurses and doctors to cope with the
demand.
Like the children waiting for
cochlear implants or medical cards.
Is í an tír seo, an tír beag is measa
atá ann chun a bheith tinn nó a bheith faoi mhíchumas.
James Reilly is letting patients
and their families down.
Now, the Taoiseach may be tempted to
move James Reilly in his Cabinet reshuffle.
But that’s not good enough Enda.
Minister Reilly has to go. But this
Government has to go with him.
The Government is not just failing on
the economy or public services.
Look at what it is doing to the Irish
language, to the future of the Gaeltacht, to the rights of Irish speakers
and the very survival of our native language.
The resignation
of Coimisinéir Teanga Seán Ó Cuirreáin over the
failure to provide services through Irish is a damning indictment of Fine Gael
and Labour.
Look at what it is doing to the arts.
The arts, despite all their potential
and contribution to society and the economy, are struggling in the face of
substantial cuts and little commitment to their development.
The debacle over the Limerick
City of Culture highlights this.
The arts are an easy
target. But this is shortsighted.
The renowned artist Robert Ballagh
has said that this Government is one of the worst for the arts in the history
of this State.
Robert Ballagh is right.
A community without a thriving arts
and cultural life, is not a community at all.
The arts must be valued, promoted and
their potential built upon because they enrich the lives of citizens, encourage
social good and lift the spirits.
Many of the problems that
Ireland faces today are a direct result of a toxic political culture,
which arose from the counter-revolution that followed the 1916 Rising and the
Tan war.
The counter-revolutionaries who
succeeded Michael Collins, like their contemporaries in the North,
copper-fastened Partition and the two conservative states, which it created.
In this part of Ireland this toxic
political culture led to the abuses of power in planning, in the banks, in
Church and State-run institutions, and in the health service.
An elite — politically
represented by the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil leaderships, often
supported by the Labour Party – oversaw a culture of corruption and golden
circles.
These are the same interests that
collapsed the Irish economy six years ago.
This corrupt political culture led to
scandals such as symphysiotomy, the Neary scandal, the Magadalene laundries,
Bethany Home, and to cases like Louise O’Keefe — pursued all the way to Europe
by this state, which also intimidated other victims to drop their court cases.
The same culture led to other
scandals in CRC, Irish Water –Uisce Eireann, and Rehab.
Sinn Féin is committed to
taking on this toxic culture.
That is what all our TDs, Senators,
MPs, MLAs, MEP Councillors — all Sinn Féin activists do, every day.
That is what Mary Lou is doing on the
Public Accounts Committee.
Being in government is about making
choices.
In the Northern Executive Sinn Fein
chose not to impose water charges – this government made a different choice.
Sinn Fein invested millions in new
school builds and in capital projects.
We chose to protect payments to young
people in education and refused to raise student fees or to impose prescription
charges.
There are countless other examples of
difficult but positive choices Sinn Féin in Government is making, even without
the necessary fiscal powers.
So, don’t be fooled by Fine Gael, Labour
or Fianna Fáil who claim they do not have any choice in the decisions they
make.
Martin McGuinness and our team of
Ministers have shown what is possible with real political leadership.
Rinneadh neart dul cun cinn le linn
an próiséas a bhí faoi stiriú ag Richard Haass agus Meghan O’Sullivan i Mí na
Nollaig.
Ghlac Sinn Féin leis na tograí.
Let’s be clear. Issues
like Acht Na Gaeilge, a Bill of Rights and the
Long Kesh site, are not going away. Let us also be clear. These
issues will be resolved. So too will issues of identity and contentious Orange
parades.
While there may be obstacles, be sure
of one thing — change will not be stopped.
I am happy to meet with the Orange
Order at any time to discuss these matters.
I want to see the Orange Order
treating its Catholic neighbours with respect. I want to see it treated with
respect.
I want to see it upholding law and
order.
Orange is one of our country’s
national colours.
The Orange Order of Ireland is one of
our national traditions.
And Sinn Féin wants all our
traditions freed up from sectarianism from any quarter, to live together in
peace and respect and with tolerance from everyone for everyone.
The tide of history is with those who
seek to build a peaceful and inclusive future.
And Ireland, north and south, is
changing.
Ach beidh orainn obair go crua don
Éireann nua seo.
Sinn Féin is a united Ireland party.
Other have a different view but a 'Border Poll' or referendum on Irish unity
threatens nobody and gives all citizens their say on the future.
Isn’t it a very limited ambition that
looks to a British Government to rule any part of Ireland – even in a
semi-detached way? Surely we have the right to govern ourselves – all of us?
Why would any democrat refuse to let
the people have their say on this?
Are they afraid of the people, afraid
of the future or afraid of democracy?
As Ian Paisley told Martin McGuinness
– We don’t need any English Minster to rule us.
This Ard Fheis has discussed
proposals to protect and promote the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender citizens.
Equality is for everyone, and that
must include LGBT citizens.
And Homophobia, whether in Russia or
in Ireland must be rejected.
This Ard Fheis has also discussed
policy proposals to protect and promote the rights of workers.
We have discussed other
proposals aimed at bringing the political system in this state into
the 21st Century.
Ba mhaith le daoine áit atá bunaithe
ar ceartas sóisialta, an pobal agus comhionannas.
If we are serious about changing this
country, the Left needs to come together around viable alternative policies and
take on the conservative establishment, who brought the economy to its knees
and created the toxic culture that we are trying to break free from.
The conservatives, the right wingers
consistently unite around their issues.
Those of us who have a different
vision - a progressive, rights-based vision must do the same.
Last October, Sinn Féin put forward
budgetary proposals based on fairness. These would have reduced the deficit,
reduced tax on families, protected public services and invested in jobs.
Real change means tackling low pay
and zero hours contracts.
It means, prioritising job creation, abolishing
the Local Property Taxand improving vital public services.
It means tackling excessive wages at
the top of the public sector and the wages of TDs and Ministers.
But there is a lot to be hopeful
about.
One party rule in the North has gone
and two-and-a-half party rule in this state is going also.
However well they regroup, Fianna
Fail will never, ever again be the dominant force they once were.
Sinn Féin is now a major
player in both states on this island with policies, objectives, and an
expanding organization which transcends partition.
Táimid ag éirí i bhfad níos láidre.
Mar sin tá an Bhunaíocht ag déanamh ionsaí orainn. Ach tá teachtaireacht againn
do na elites. Tá Sinn Féin anseo agus níl muid ag dul áit ar bith, ach ar
aghaidh.
In May, in European and Local
Government elections north and south, you can play your part.
For the first time ever, every voter,
in every county council on the island will have the opportunity to vote
for Sinn Féin. In this centenary year
of Cumann na mBan, Sinn Féin is running more
women candidates than ever before.
And may I salute Councillor Catherine
Seely who is standing up for women, and Sinn Fein against sectarian bigots.
There will be over 350 republican
candidates across Ireland.
Each is a committed voice for their
community, putting the people’s interests at the heart of local government.
In the coming weeks our party will
launch proposals to radically reshape and improve local authorities.
Just remember successive governments
here, including this one, have centralised power and emasculated local
democracy.
I want to commend and thank the
hundreds of Sinn Féin local representatives who have done sterling work at
local level for decades.
Táimid buíoch daoibhse go léir.
Our EU candidates – MEP Martina
Anderson in the North, Matt Carthy in the Midlands North West,
Lynn Boylan in Dublin and Liadh Ní Riada in the
South constituency – offer the people of Ireland the representation they have
failed to get from other MEPs.
Sinn Féin MEPs will fight
for the best deal for Ireland on every issue unlike Enda Kenny or Eamon
Gilmore.
Since we last met, the world, and in
particular South Africa, lost a great leader with the passing of
‘Madiba’, Nelson Mandela.
Madiba was a friend of
Ireland and of Sinn Féin.
Richard McAuley and I were
greatly honoured to represent Irish republicans
at Madiba’s funeral and to be part of his final Guard of Honour.
Slán Madiba. Ní bheidh do leithéid
arís ann.
Madiba's qualities of leadership and
peace-building are needed more than ever in the world today, particularly in
the Middle East.
The current Palestinian/Israeli peace
process is not going to deliver a democratic outcome at this time, because the
international community has failed to uphold the rights of the Palestinian
people.
These conflicts can only be resolved
if the international community upholds it’s own laws, international law and
takes positive, focused initiatives to find political solutions.
This is true of the Central African
Republicand in Syria where the suffering is horrific and unacceptable.
Despite this, and the obvious
futility of militarism, the big powers at EU level are moving towards greater
militarisation.
Sinn Féin opposes this and we will
robustly defend and promote Irish neutrality.
Margaretta D'arcy is in prison over
this issue.
Margaretta is not a criminal.
She should be released immediately.
Sinn Fein is the only real and
credible opposition in Leinster House.
We have clear and positive
alternatives to the policies of austerity embraced by the cosy consensus of
Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail.
So, our message is clear.
Now is the time for change.
It’s time to rebuild our economy and
our society.
This Government must give families a
break.
The next budget must give something
back.
It must ease the tax burden on
working people.
Remove the Property Tax and
prioritise investment in public services and jobs.
For Sinn Fein, in opposition or in
government, north or south, politics is about delivery for people.
Bobby Sands put it well when, on the
11th day of his Hunger Strike, in his
prison diary, he wrote:
“There is no equality in a society
that stands upon the political and economic bog where only the strongest make
it good or survive.”
So, it is about standing up for
citizens and for their rights.
The Irish people have endured much
throughout history and we’ve come through it all.
Ireland is a great country. The Irish
people are no mean people. So we will overcome the challenges and we will
prosper.
Working together we will rebuild
this great nation.
We shall overcome.
So, let’s make 2014 the year of
change.
Ar aghaidh linn le chéile.
Ar aghaidh linn le Sinn Féin.
Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community
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