This Ard Fheis:
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 26 Chontae Thomas Allen Cumann (Trim) James Stephens Cumann (Kilkenny City) Liam Ryan Cumann (Athlone)
This Ard Fheis acknowledges Sinn Féin’s existing policy to strengthen tenants’ rights through the introduction of greater security of tenure and real rent certainty. Sinn Féin believes that landlords’ mortgage interest tax relief should be linked to the provision of greater security of tenure and rent certainty.
This Ard Fheis therefore calls for the Irish Government to provide for 100% mortgage interest relief for landlords who provide tenants with tenancies of indefinite duration and rent certainty through index linking rent reviews, accompanied by a reduction of mortgage interest relief for landlords to 50% who do not provide tenancies of indefinite duration and rent certainty through index linking rent reviews.
Black/Ryan Cumann (Lucan)
This Ard Fheis recognises the latest state report by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and recent research commissioned by the Equality Commission in the North which is cited in their latest audit of Housing and Communities which demonstrates that within the 6 Counties there is unequal access to:
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to pursue the appointment of dedicated Tenancy Sustainability Officers in all council areas that are currently without such a position.
Doherty/Delaney Cumann (Navan)
This Ard Fheis notes that the current Northern Housing Executive policy on intimidation points does not allow for points to be awarded to those suffering intimidation as a result of domestic abuse and therefore calls on the Housing Executive in the North to review their policy in relation to intimidation points to address this as every citizen deserves to have a safe and secure home free from fear of violence and intimidation.
Coalisland/Clonoe Martyrs Cumann
This Ard Fheis:
McCabe/Quigley Cumann (Ballymun)
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis:
Dublin Cúige
This Ard Fheis recognises that:
James Connolly Cumann (Ballyfermot)
This Ard Fheis opposes any moves by the Minster or Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government to either directly or indirectly attempt to further erode the power of local authority elected members to develop or amend any aspect of their county development plans.
Members of local authorities, democratically elected to that position, must retain the authority to vary their country development plan if it reflects the will of the people they represent, without requiring the approval of the non-elected executive officers.
Barnes/McCormack Cumann (Mullingar)
This Ard Fheis notes:
Ard Chomhairle Lawlor/Mulvihill/Clashmealcon Martyrs Cumann (Ballyheigue/Causeway/Ballyduff) Keating/Sands Cumann (Comeragh) Charlie McGlade Cumann (Drimnagh)
This Ard Fheis:
Joe McDonnell Cumann (Drumkeeran)
This Ard Fheis states that Sinn Féin will only enter government in the 26 Counties if we are the largest party in terms of Dáil seat numbers.
Vol. Diarmuid O'Neill Cumann (Castletownkinneigh)
This Ard Fheis proposes that Irish and the Gaeltacht would be reinstated as a senior ministerial position in any Sinn Féin government in the 26 Counties and that such a portfolio would not be linked to any other ministerial area.
Tomás Aghais Cumann (Dingle)
This Ard Fheis calls for Sinn Féin not to enter government with another party unless the abolition of water charges and the abolition of tax on the family home are part of the Programme for Government.
McGrath/Sands Cumann (Carrick on Suir)
This Ard Fheis mandates that a condition of Sinn Féin involvement in any coalition Government in the 26 Counties is the ending of the discrimination against young people aged 18 to 26 year olds with respect to social welfare payments and that in the first budget the lower payments are brought up to the upper limit.
Tracey Cre Cumann (Roscrea)
This Ard Fheis notes with concern that:
This Ard Fheis notes with concern that there are 173,000 people of working age and 93,000 children living in poverty in the north of Ireland and calls on the incoming Executive to develop and implement a fully resourced anti-poverty strategy with clear achievable targets and timelines for realisation.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 6 Chontae
This Ard Fheis:
Wicklow Comhairle Ceantair McCabe/Quigley Cumann (Ballymun)
This Ard Fheis:
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 26 Chontae
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to end the ongoing discrimination for over 35,000 older people, mainly women, in the calculation of their state pension payment. Sinn Féin want to see the pre-September 2012 pension bands and rates restored to allow for a fairer pension payment for our older people. This Ard Fheis believes that older people should be guaranteed a pension payment at retirement regardless of their PRSI contributions or any breaks taken from work such as time taken to raise families or care for a loved one. Sinn Féin will work towards developing an all-Ireland pensions policy based on a universal pension payment to ensure a fair and adequate income for all of our older people at retirement.
This Ard Fheis also acknowledges that there are more 65 year olds on Jobseekers payments than any other age category in the State. We recognise that this has come about due to the abolition of the State Pension Transition along with the increase in pension age in 2014. This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to end this injustice and restore the State Pension Transition to allow 65 year olds access to a pension payment and to support the Sinn Féin tabled Employment Equality (Abolition of Mandatory Retirement Age) Bill 2016, ensuring its earliest passage into law.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 26 Chontae Monaghan Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis recognises the benefits of public spending being harnessed for social good. This Ard Fheis calls for the development and implementation of a comprehensive Social Value Act in the North which will:
Joe McManus Cumann (Garrison)
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to face up to their responsibilities in encouraging emigrants to return to Ireland by enabling returning emigrants to access relevant documents, insurance, licences, bank accounts and other essentials more readily.
McEvilly/O'Malley Cumann (Castlebar)
This Ard Fheis calls on the Sinn Féin economic and finance team to examine the pending mortgage interest rate crisis given that interest rates will inevitably and significantly increase and that most Irish homeowners are on variable or short term fixed mortgages.
Kevin Barry/Frank Stagg Cumann (North West Inner City)
This Ard Fheis fully endorses the recently published Sinn Féin Apprenticeship Reform Proposals policy document. This policy document recognises the importance of apprenticeships in providing our young people with alternative educational and training choices, and in providing our economy with the educated and skilled workers needed for a variety of emerging and growing industries. This document sets out a five year plan which primarily aims to:
Clancy/O'Callaghan Cumann (Limerick City North) Meath Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis calls for the introduction of a wage for third level students on work placements and temporary internships. Such earnings should not be considered when applying for government schemes such as SUSI.
Markievicz/Tadhg Barry Cumann (Cork North West/Central Wards)
This Ard Fheis:
Clare Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis calls for the development of a comprehensive policy on the issue of bogus sub-contractors in the construction industry focusing on the impact of bogus sub-contracting on workers’ rights, tax revenues and social welfare expenditure. Such proposals should detail the legislative and policy changes we would like to see implemented North and South to address these problems. This should be followed by the roll out of a campaign informed by this new policy document and aimed at securing the necessary legislative and policy changes to protect workers and reduce tax evasion and enforced social welfare fraud.
Drumm/Doherty/Clarke Cumann (Clondalkin)
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis believes that large corporations should make a fair and proportionate contribution to countries finances, therefore, corporation tax should be increased North and South, not reduced with the additional revenue raised to be used to tackle homelessness and housing waiting lists, North and South.
Clonard Martyrs Cumann
This Ard Fheis believes that the Northern Executive should not lower corporation tax, and that any island-wide harmonisation of corporation tax should result from a rise of corporation tax in the South.
National Youth Committee
This Ard Fheis, recognising that unemployment levels have fallen, calls for the government to introduce legislation requiring that jobs offered to people must have a minimum of twenty hours in a five day period , with the living wage as the guide to pay rates.
James Connolly Cumann (Cahir)
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to amend the qualifying conditions for Working Family Payment (i.e. working at least 19 hours per week) to take into account low income workers on zero or low hour contracts.
Bob Smith Cumann (Dundrum)
This Ard Fheis recognises the employment potential of workers’ co-operatives and therefore endorses our new party policy document in this area and calls on the party to ensure that priority is given to campaigning for legislative changes to facilitate the growth of worker co-ops on an all-Ireland basis.
Robert Byrne Cumann (Limerick City East)
This Ard Fheis:
Black Mountain Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis:
Limavady Comhairle Ceantair Tom Flatley Cumann (Enniskillen)
This Ard Fheis calls on the party to reaffirm our support for a continued effort to ensure that a Commission of Inquiry into Media Ownership in Ireland is a major priority.
Furthermore this Ard Fheis condemns the media bias against Sinn Féin, especially the despicable bias shown by Independent News and Media and Communicorp, while also recognising the inherent anti-Sinn Féin bias of other media outlets including the state broadcaster RTÉ.
Limerick City Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis:
Ard Chomhairle Pól Kinsella Cumann (Northlands)
This Ard Fheis believes that the future of Europe and the credibility of the EU project depends on a number of radical changes and that the consultation period, which has already begun, has presented a narrow choice of options none of which guarantee principles of democracy, sovereignty nor the rights of citizens.
This Ard Fheis specifically:
Ard Chomhairle Midlands/North West Cúige
This Ard Fheis, noting the widespread forecasting of a pending financial crisis in 2018/19, calls for the Sinn Féin policy unit to prepare a comprehensive discussion paper on the outworking of an Irish break from the EU Monetary Union, in order to ensure that the party has a strategy to deal with such a set of circumstances should they arise.
Tormey/Mannion Cumann (South Roscommon)
This Ard Fheis recognises the possible negative consequences of British/EU Brexit negotiations on the fishing industry in Ireland.
This Ard Fheis therefore commits to do everything in its power to:
McGrath/O’Brien Cumann (East Waterford)
This Ard Fheis notes that the EU Fiscal Compact enforces blanket, one-size-fits- all fiscal rules that require the diverse economies of EU member states to keep public debt limited to 60 per cent of GDP and annual deficits to below 3 per cent of GDP.
The Fiscal Compact and the Stability and Growth Pact that preceded it have imposed severe and unacceptable restrictions on the ability of EU member states, including the Irish state, to respond effectively to the economic crisis by using macroeconomic stimulus measures.
Spending cuts during a downturn have a contractionary effect and cause the economy to shrink, which is exactly what happened in the aftermath of the recessions in the Irish state, Spain, Greece and Portugal, causing rising unemployment, poverty and inequality.
The Fiscal Compact imposes a straitjacket of fiscal austerity on all member states who have adopted it, leaving these states entirely reliant on the European Central Bank's one-size-fits-all monetary policies. The singular focus by the EU on ‘balanced budgets’, with no corresponding focus on balanced trade accounts, reflects a commitment to the failed ideology of austerity.
This Ard Fheis rejects the proposed incorporation of the Fiscal Compact into EU law at the end of 2017 and calls on the Irish Government to use its position on the European Council to veto this enshrining of austerity permanently into the EU Treaty.
This Ard Fheis supports the repeal of the 13th amendment to the Irish Constitution that enshrines aspects of the Fiscal Compact into Irish law.
Kerry Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis recognises the all-Ireland nature of the agri-food and drinks industry which is a major contributor to our economy and calls on the Irish Government to demand that the North remain in the European Union to protect this vital industry and to seek EU funding for agri-food SMEs who are exporting to protect their business in the context of the very real dangers that Brexit presents
Jimmy Joe Reynolds Cumann (Mohill)
This Ard Fheis notes that:
Kerry Comhairle Ceantair Deleaney/O’Rahilly Cumann (Bray)
This Ard Fheis believes that decades of under-investment and failure to deliver a rural strategy has led to the haemorrhaging of young people from rural areas. This Ard Fheis believes that as well as increasing investment in vital rural services and the retention of services such as post offices, transport and Garda stations, that a strategy to reverse the brain drain and incentivise the establishment of rural cooperatives and businesses is needed to prevent further loss of the rural identity and way of life.
Midlands/North West Cúige Tipperary Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis:
Noble Six/Fr. O`Flanagan/MacManus Cumann (Sligo Town)
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis notes that the proposal for the development of a North- South interconnector continues to be frustrated as a result of planning and judicial delays. We note that such delays are likely to continue so long as the project fails to receive the acceptance of the communities through which this infrastructure will pass.
This Ard Fheis further notes that the imposition of high-voltage pylon- supported lines will never receive the necessary public acceptance and therefore calls on authorities, North and South, to direct that the project be undergrounded in line with international best practice.
Meegan/Harvey Cumann (Inniskeen)
This Ard Fheis calls for all regions to be treated with parity and equality in the distribution of jobs and the adequate infrastructure to attract jobs. Dunne/Kelly/Whitty Cumann (Wexford Town)
Wexford Comhairle Ceanntair
This Ard Fheis supports the retention of the 8th Amendment.
Creeslough Cumann
This Ard Fheis calls for the restoration of the Town Councils and the Town Council Block Grants. Tipperary Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis supports the continuation of devolution of additional powers to local councils within the North, but only on the premise of the completion in legislation of the outstanding and unfinished “call-in” regulations as was agreed under the Local Government Act 2014.
Falls Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to reverse its policy of staffless libraries. Digital solutions such as parcel motel style lockers and apps like BorrowBox can extend access to library services without putting jobs at risk.
Grey Abbey Martyrs Cumann (Kildare Town)
This Ard Fheis:
Patrick Conroy Cumann (Castlerea) Robert Emmet Cumann (Thurles) Noel McCann Cumann (Ballinasloe)
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to take measures to control the insurance cartels who are responsible for the present escalating and exorbitant levels of car insurance, and calls for the car insurance industry to be brought into state ownership and to be then administered by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. This Ard Fheis also calls for, as EU members, the availability of car insurance from other EU member states.
Cumann Caisleán Nua Thiar
This Ard Fheis calls for legislation to ensure safety roll bars are a requirement on all quad bikes.
McEvilly/O'Malley Cumann (Castlebar)
This Ard Fheis recommends the mandatory inclusion of blood alcohol level samples along with routine blood tests in the cases of all road traffic accidents where the driver is receiving health care from a statutory health care provider.
Coen/Savage Cumann (Collooney)
This Ard Fheis proposes that for an experienced driver not exceeding 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, not exceeding 107mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine and not exceeding 35mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, a fine of €300 and 3 penalty points be imposed, as per current 2010 Road Traffic Act.
Gallagher/Foy Cumann (Drumconrath)
This Ard Fheis proposes that the restrictions and regulations around hackney and taxi licences in rural Ireland should be reviewed and revised in order to eliminate drink driving.
Sean Corcoran Cumann (Kiltimagh)
This Ard Fheis, in order to reduce road deaths, promote safer driving and reduce the cost of insurance, proposes the introduction of compulsory fitting of dash-cams on all new motor vehicles. Martin Forsythe Cumann (Glencullen/Sandyford)
This Ard Fheis believes that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must move towards a system of fairer distribution. With many farmers struggling to get by and farming becoming less and less attractive to younger generations, there is an urgent need to address gross inequalities within the system. This Ard Fheis believes that:
Ard Chomhairle
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis notes the:
Donnacha De Barra Cumann (Kinsale)
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to support the conservation and development of Irish native breeds in plant and livestock production. Any negotiations regarding CAP or regional development should include support for the conservation of genetic resources for sustainable agriculture.
Mayo Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis:
Fergal O'Hanlon Cumann (Brookeborough) James Crossan Cumann (Cloone/Aughavas)
This Ard Fheis calls for the provision of compensation to farmers whose land has been designated by Parks and Wildlife and therefore constraining the farmer in the agricultural use of this land.
Jack Mc Loughlin Cumman (Fenagh)
This Ard Fheis recognises the difficulties faced by emigrants returning to Ireland who are looking to take up farming. We call for a special scheme and fund to assist with providing entitlements, establishing a holding and to provide an adequately resourced fund.
Jack Mc Loughlin Cumman (Fenagh)
This Ard Fheis recognises the devastating effects of flooding in recent years and calls for the Irish Government to increase the level of investment in flood relief and prevention measures as well as the protection of Ireland’s waterways canals and wild life.
James Crossan Cumann (Cloone/Aughavas) Liam Ryan Cumann (Athlone)
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis supports seaweed harvesting with particular regard to the western coast developing a micro domestic industry committed to seaweed as a natural resource that will not be relinquished to large or foreign owned companies to exploit or profit seek.
Erris Cumann North Clare Cumann
This Ard Fheis, recognising the importance of animal welfare, proposes the development of a comprehensive animal welfare policy paper by Sinn Féin.
Cull/Tymon Cumann (Arigna) Tom Keely Cumman (Celbridge)
This Ard Fheis recognises the cruelty of the battery hen industry, deplores the conditions the animals suffer in and calls for the immediate banning of the practice in Ireland.
Sheena Campbell Cumann (Rostrevor)
This Ard Fheis calls for legislation to ban live hare coursing, noting the cruelty suffered by the native, wild hares through their capture, injuries and trauma, often resulting in death and furthermore calls on Sinn Féin to produce a document outlining our policies in this area.
West Waterford Cumann Sean Mac Giolla Bhríde Cumann (Westport) Mulvey Cumann (Bré)
This Ard Fheis sends solidarity greetings to the Palestinian people living under occupation or in exile.
This Ard Fheis condemns the continuing annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the forced removal of Palestinian citizens and the building of illegal settlements which contravenes international law and the Geneva Convention of 1949. We demand the implementation of United Nation resolutions and the enforcement of international law.
This Ard Fheis supports self-determination for the Palestinian people and believes it is up to the Palestinian people to decide which kind of state they prefer.
This Ard Fheis condemns the continued use by Israel of ‘Administrative Detention’, otherwise known as ‘internment without trial’. This draconian measure should cease immediately.
This Ard Fheis urges full support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign which entails an economic, cultural and academic boycott of Israel. We believe this campaign is a strategy for effective solidarity among all those who support the right of the people of Palestine to Statehood. We particularly demand that the Irish Government immediately stops procuring drones, armaments and other military equipment from Israeli manufacturers.
This Ard Fheis welcomes the motions that were supported both in the Seanad and the Dáil calling on the Irish Government to formally recognise the State of Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. We call on the Irish Government to do this without further delay. This Ard Fheis welcomes the recent agreement between Fatah and Hamas on a process to end the political divisions between them. This deal creates the potential for real progress in the efforts to rekindle the moribund Middle East peace process. We urge the international community to speedily grasp this opportunity and encourage all sides to open up a renewed dialogue to making progress in the peace process.
Ard Chomhairle Roscommon Comhairle Ceantair Pádraig Pearse Cumann (Bogside) Lagmore Cumann Pól Kinsella Cumann (Northlands)
This Ard Fheis agrees that, in view of Sinn Féin's stated commitment to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Campaign, Sinn Féin will have no more meetings or dealings with the right-wing party Likud, or any Israeli political parties that gives succour or support, either covertly or overtly, to the increased expansion of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands in violation of international law.
Ruth Hackett Cumann (Maynooth)
This Ard Fheis supports the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo against the genocide they are subjected to and denounce the silence generally observed by the media regarding the Congolese holocaust.
Sheena Campbell Cumann (Corduff)
This Ard Fheis notes:
This Ard Fheis therefore calls on the Irish Government to implement a robust Action Plan on Business and Human Rights to ensure the rights of people both in Ireland and globally are protected.
Black Ryan Cumann (Lucan)
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis notes that:
Wicklow Comhairle Ceanntair
This Ard Fheis:
Upper Falls Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis:
Upper Falls Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis recognises that:
Ard Chomhairle Charlie McGlade Cumann (Drimnagh) Coleraine Comhairle Ceantair Nolan/Downey Cumann (Laganbank)
This Ard Fheis acknowledges that:
This Ard Fheis therefore commits Sinn Féin to undertake a steady-state economic study for the purpose of exploring alternative economic models for the island of Ireland.
Barney McFadden Cumann (Greysteel)
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to ban all single use plastic and biodegradable plastics - irrespective of thickness - sourced from petrochemicals and instead introduce the use of bio-plastics made from natural materials.
West Galway Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis calls on Sinn Féin to examine:
This Ard Fheis calls on the British and Irish Governments to commit to the Bonn Challenge which seeks to:
Grey Abbey Martyrs Cumann (Kildare Town)
This Ard Fheis:
Cumann Caisleán Nua Thiar
This Ard Fheis calls on Sinn Féin to examine the possibility of bringing forward proposals to allow flexibility in forestation programmes to facilitate farmers or their successors who wish to bring forested land back to green land to do so.
Hurson-Quirke Cumann (Galway City West)
This Ard Fheis fully endorses the proposed 2017 Constitution, Rules and Regulations which have been produced following extensive consultation across the party and commends its adoption.
Ard Chomhairle
This Ard Fheis calls for the reinvigoration of the National Councillors Forum, for this Forum to represent the views of councillors within party structures including the Ard Chomhairle and for the National Councillors Forum to roll out a series of training, education and policy briefings to assist and support our local elected representatives to represent the party and their constituents to the best of their ability.
Keating/Sands Cumann (Comeragh)
This Ard Fheis proposes that all future information and election leaflets produced by Sinn Féin would be bilingual, in the main Irish language dialects appropriate to the area they are to be distributed. We further propose that Irish be given parity with English on all publications.
Tomás Aghais Cumann (Dingle)
This Ard Fheis proposes that Sinn Féin should implement a policy of positive discrimination ensuring that there should be a set quota of Gaeilgeóiri in every representative forum throughout the country in which there are elected Sinn Féin members specifically, An Dáil, An Seanad, An Tionól, Na Comhairlí Cathracha. We propose that this is also implemented within the party structure especially the Ard Chomhairle.
Martin/Tracey Cumann (East Belfast)
This Ard Fheis:
Devlin/Plunkett Cumann (Templeogue/Terenure) Drumm/Doherty/Clarke Cumann (Clondalkin) Bob Smith Cumann (Dundrum)
This Ard Fheis:
Roscommon Comhairle Ceantair National Youth Committee
This Ard Fheis calls for the Ard Chomhairle to initiate an urgent review the current membership policies including recruitment, education and retention of new members, with a view to protecting the integrity of the party and the commitment of its members. That this review should consider staged membership or associate membership, probationary periods, rights and responsibilities and allow for participation from cumainn and the wider membership. The objectives of this review would be to create a more robust party, inclusive of all, where membership rights and responsibilities are clearly defined, making the party fit for purpose in our new and dynamic, ever changing Irish society.
Cork City Comhairle Ceantar Margaret Skinnider Cumann (Ballygall/Drumcondra)
This Ard Fheis proposes that all cumann cláranna include Irish as a necessary fundamental agenda item for each meeting, whether or not they conduct their cumann business in Irish.
Dublin South Central Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis encourages all Sinn Féin members to become a member of a Trade Union given the important role of trade unions in alleviating the widespread exploitation and abuse of the minimum wage system.
Parle/Crean/Hogan/Gleeson Cumann (Taghmon)
This Ard Fheis recognises the importance of providing all elected representatives and activists with essential skills and training in suicide prevention and that a training programme will be devised and rolled out in all areas and made available to all activists.
Ireland South Cúige
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis mandates Sinn Féin to:
Ard Chomhairle
This Ard Fheis agrees that Sinn Féin should develop a position paper on the age of criminal responsibility and aim to publish within a reasonable timeframe.
Loughshore Martyrs Cumann (Ardboe)
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to provide increased supports for families going through divorce or separation proceedings:
West Waterford Cumann
This Ard Fheis notes:
Mulgrew/McCracken Cumann (Castle) Tom Flatley Cumann (Enniskillen) Barney Morris Seamus Harvey Cumann, Crossmaglen Clonard Martyrs Cumann
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis, noting lack of maternity leave for local elected representatives, calls on the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to:
Ireland South Cúige
This Ard Fheis applauds and supports the work done by traveller groups and commits Sinn Féin to working with the travelling community with a view to supporting a member of its community in future Seanad election campaigns. Martin Forsythe Cumann (Glencullen/Sandyford)
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis notes that the health service in the South has been in a state of crisis for over a decade with no improvement under successive Irish Governments which have included Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, the Labour Party, the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and Independents, all of whom continued the commodification of health and reliance on the private sector.
This Ard Fheis further notes that despite the hard work and dedication of the excellent workers in our health service that the crisis continues due to Government inaction and Health Service Executive impotence.
The crisis is currently reflected by the fact that:
This Ard Fheis recognises the hard work the Sinn Féin Dáil and Seanad teams have done in the face of hostile opposition in bringing forward solutions and proposals, and commends their successes in forcing the Government into progressive change by:
This Ard Fheis reaffirms its endorsement of Sinn Féin’s Better for Health – A Sinn Féin Plan for Universal Healthcare to increase investment in the health system, not simply to provide more resources and capacity, but to directly challenge and eliminate the structural inequalities that result in the less well-off die younger and live less healthy lives.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 26 Chontae Smith/Savage Cumann (Castleknock) Murt Qualter Cumann (Athenry) Monaghan Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis endorses the new Medicinal Cannabis Compassionate Access Programme in the 26 Counties as the optimal approach to ensuring that those patients who can safely benefit from cannabis-based treatments do so. We are mindful of patients who are sick and suffering across the State and are determined to ensure that no legal barrier impede their access to any drug or treatment that their qualified medical clinician wishes to prescribe.
We also call for the Access Programme to be extended to include the widest appropriate range of medical conditions, including pain, and will keep the development of the programme under review - should it fail to deliver we will bring forward legislation to rectify this.
Wilson/Coleman Cumann (Swords) Sheena Campbell Cumann (Rostrevor)
This Ard Fheis:
Ard Chomhairle
This Ard Fheis is alarmed at the number of drug-related deaths that are occurring right across the island which is causing untold grief to bereaved families. More proactive steps must be taken by the appropriate statutory agencies North and South to engage the local community as a key stakeholder in the development of overarching strategies to tackle to the misuse of legal and illegal drugs. This Ard Fheis welcomes the community-led inquiry pioneered in West Belfast in conjunction with key statutory agencies which will:
Blackmountain Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis:
Dublin South Central Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis calls for the decriminalisation of all drugs for personal use.
National Youth Committee UCC Cumann
This Ard Fheis recognises that there are almost 70,000 people across this island living with dementia and that for each one of these people with a diagnosis, there are approximately three other close family members directly affected. These numbers are expected to double in the next 20 years and treble in the next 35 years.
Dementia is a serious, progressive medical condition for which as yet there is no cure. It has a huge and changing impact on the person and on those close to them. Too often people with dementia and their families are left to cope with the effects of dementia alone and without the information, support and care they need.
This Ard Fheis recognises the significant challenge facing society in tackling dementia and calls for public health measures including:
This Ard Fheis expresses its anger at the Irish Government regarding lack of investment in community supports for people with dementia in Budget 2018 and that more than half of a £6.2m fund earmarked for dementia care in the North has not been spent.
This Ard Fheis calls for the Irish Government and Northern Executive to provide adequate resources to ensure full implementation of the National Dementia Strategy and the development of a revised and reformed strategy that prioritises dementia.
Caraher/McCreesh Cumann (Ballymacnab)
This Ard Fheis calls for the introduction of electronic continuous monitoring of blood glucose sugar in Type 1 Diabetes and provision of the funding to deliver that program.
O'Carolan/Kilmartin Cumann (Dungiven)
This Ard Fheis supports the Stop Targeting Kids Campaign organised by the Irish Heart Foundation, and calls on the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to protect children's health through strict controls, particularly on digital marketing, by introducing a comprehensive statutory system of regulation for online unhealthy food and drinks marketing directed at children.
Sherlock/Harford Cumann (Balbriggan)
This Ard Fheis endorses Sinn Féin’s 2018 Alternative Budget mental health priorities to:
Dublin Cúige James Connolly Cumann (Ballyfermot) Dunne-Kelly-Whitty Cumann (Wexford Town) Wexford Comhairle Ceantair Robert Emmet/Joe Clarke Cumann (Inchicore/SWIC) James Connolly Cumann (Cahir)
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis:
North Belfast Comhairle Ceantair Colin Comhairle Ceantair Fermanagh Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government’s Minister for Health to initiate the provision of a Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at Sligo University Hospital.
Noble Six/Fr. O`Flanagan/MacManus Cumann (Sligo Town)
This Ard Fheis, in recognition of Sinn Féin’s commitment to equality in the Better4Health policy document, and with regard to the government’s proposal to open a new hospital in Cork, notes that:
Ahern/Crowley Cumann (North East Ward)
This Ard Fheis supports:
Derry City Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis notes with concern:
Cúige na Sé Chontae
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to:
Dwyer/Parnell Cumann (Arklow Rural)
This Ard Fheis call on the Ministers for Housing, Planning and Local Government and Rural and Community Development in the 26 Counties to ensure that all new builds for senior citizens are fitted with emergency pendant alarms, and calls on the Irish Government to restore the telephone allowance to senior citizens to allow them avail of emergency pendants through their landline.
Logue/Marley Cumann (Crumlin)
This Ard Fheis commends the health policy development team on the promotion of the Better for Health policy, currently led by Louise O Reilly TD. The development of a single-tier health system will bring benefits for all. The current public health system is broken. Some of the issues that require immediate change include:
Clarke/Smith/Doherty Cumann (Finglas)
This Ard Fheis calls on the authorities North and South to ensure that there is dialysis unit and renal team access for citizens across the whole island in order to end a situation where people living in rural areas, and particularly in the west of Ireland, have to travel for more than an hour to receive such treatment.
Tom Shevlin/Joe McDonnell Cumann (Strokestown)
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to provide immediate funding to cater for free medical health check-ups for all adults over 30 years of age. It is hoped that early professional interventions may greatly reduce the incidents of mental and physical illness at an early stage thus avoiding future over dependence on harmful and costly prescription medication.
Coen/Vaughan Cumann (Drumshanbo)
This Ard Fheis:
Clarke/Smith/Doherty Cumann (Finglas) Burns/McKerr/Toman Cumann (Lurgan) Markievicz/Ryan Cumann (Tallaght Central)
This Ard Fheis:
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 26 Chontae O'Hanlon/McMahon/Lynagh Cumann (Monaghan Town)
This Ard Fheis notes:
This Ard Fheis fully supports the participation and inclusion of people with disability in all areas of Irish life and calls on the Irish Government to immediately ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Peadar Clancy/Mairéad Farrell Cumann (Ennis) Swinford Cumann Sean Mac Giola Bhríde Cumann (Westport) Mayo Comhairle Ceantair Glenavy Cumann
This Ard Fheis recognises the needs of those in our community with disabilities and those who care for them. The Irish state remains the only state in the European Union that has failed to ratify the UNCRPD and continues to fail those with disabilities by displaying a lack of commitment to ensure they are not further excluded from decisions that impact their own daily lives. This failure is evident in the low level of Housing Adaptation Grant budget for those with severe health issues that affect mobility and enable them to stay in their own home while continuing to function to the best of their ability. We recognise that the right to Home Care Services (respite/home care packages, home help, specialist therapies, etc.) is essential and should be available to all care recipients regardless of age. Family carers are a vital resource in our communities and deserve proper recognition. Carers experience enormous levels of physical and mental stress and should have access to necessary supports to assist them continuing in the caring role. The Minister of State with responsibility for People with Disabilities must ensure children who access support due to disability or developmental delay are provided with adequately financed resources to ensure they continue to receive the ongoing care they require into adulthood.
Barnes/McCormack Cumann (Mullingar)
This Ard Fheis:
Duffy/Downey Cumann (Dundalk East)
This Ard Fheis supports changing building regulations for all publically accessible buildings to have their disabled access built, as a minimum standard, to guidelines put forward by the Irish Wheelchair Association.
Mitchell/Sands Cumann (Magheracloone) Keenan/Doherty Cumann (Carrickmacross)
This Ard Fheis renews and strengthens its commitment to making every village, town and city disability friendly to ensure Ireland is at the forefront in making certain that those living with a disability are equally respected and valued. Furthermore we seek to mandate all elected representatives to significantly increase resources to remove physical barriers to participation, to remove the obstacle courses that those living with a disability encounter each and every day. We commend the #MakeWayDay campaign and urge all members to sign the online petition that commits to creating a more equal society for people with disabilities.
Robert Emmet/Joe Clarke Cumann (Inchicore/SWIC)
This Ard Fheis recognises that the early identification of special educational needs (SEN) and the timely provision of appropriate support, together with high aspirations, can help ensure that children who have SEN or disabilities excel into adulthood.
This Ard Fheis notes with concern that:
Limavady Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis:
James Stephens Cumann (Kilkenny)
This Ard Fheis notes that:
Meaney/Dunne Cumann (Ballybrack)
This Ard Fheis:
Cole/Colley Cumann (Coolock)
This Ard Fheis notes that:
Carrick-On-Shannon Cumann
This Ard Fheis commends Former Deputy First Minister and former Education Minister Martin McGuinness for abolishing the 11 plus transfer test to establish a transfer system based upon parental choice and recognises that:
This Ard Fheis reaffirms its commitment to an education system based upon equality and parental choice, and calls on schools to show leadership by ending the use of transfer tests and building a fully inclusive and non-selective education system for the betterment of all our young people.
Cúige na Sé Chontae
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to carry out a thorough review of the CAO and leaving certificate system, having regard to:
Mick Murray Cumann (Clontarf)
This Ard Fheis calls for Sinn Féin to develop a comprehensive policy on end of life issues, including proposals to allow a person who is terminally ill to be assisted to die where that is their declared intention and where they have clearly and freely given their consent.
Ard Chomhairle National Youth Committee Tommy Kavanagh Cumann (The Commons)
This Ard Fheis reaffirms our support for the repeal of the 8th Amendment of Bunreacht na hEireann.
This Ard Fheis further affirms our commitment to campaign to achieve this objective.
This Ard Fheis calls on the government to hold a referendum to repeal the 8th amendment without any further delay. Sinn Féin believes that full information and non-directive pregnancy counselling embodying all choices should be freely available. We re-assert our opposition to the criminalisation of women who make the decision to have an abortion.
The party accepts the need for the availability of abortion where a woman’s life, health or mental health is at serious risk or in grave danger, and in cases of fatal foetal abnormality and in the cases rape or sexual abuse.
Ard Chomhairle Tormey/Mannion Cumann (South Roscommon) Dublin Mid-West Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis acknowledges Sinn Féin’s position on Repealing the 8th Amendment and commits Sinn Féin to actively supporting the forthcoming Repeal campaign.
This Ard Fheis recognises that the Citizens Assembly was a fair and rigorous process of deliberative democracy that resulted in workable and compassionate recommendations which Sinn Féin will endorse.
Furthermore this Ard Fheis commits Sinn Féin to developing a Women's Health Policy based on the Citizens Assembly recommendations.
Mulgrew/McCracken Cumann (Castle) Kevin Barry/Frank Stagg Cumann (North West Inner City) McLaughlin/Cahill Cumann (Howth) Devlin/Plunkett Cumann (Templeogue/Terenure) Markievicz/O'Farrell Cumann (Tallaght South) Markievicz/Tadhg Barry Cumann (North West/Central Wards) MacDiarmada/Gilgunn Cumann (Manorhamilton) Margaret Skinnider Cumann (Ballygall/Drumcondra) Gaughan/Stagg Cumann (Ballina) Cole /Colley Cumann (Coolock)
This Ard Fheis acknowledges that every day women leave this country to travel abroad to avail of terminations. We acknowledge the hardship and trauma which is added to by the need to travel to another jurisdiction and which can in some instances cause complications for aftercare. We acknowledge that while women in crisis pregnancy must and should receive supports they are choosing to terminate pregnancies for socio economic reasons and we can no longer ignore this. Mindful of the recommendation of the Citizens Assembly this Ard Fheis recognises the need to legislate for terminations in socio economic circumstances and resolves to develop a 32 county policy to reflect this and to campaign on this policy.
Dublin Mid-West Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis acknowledges that every day women on the island of Ireland travel abroad to avail of terminations and that we can no longer ignore this fact. This Ard Fheis acknowledges that women deserve respect, protection and fulfilment of their human rights through access to legal abortion services. This Ard Fheis mandates Sinn Féin to commit to developing both policy and legislation regarding women’s health and termination services. This Ard Fheis supports the introduction of legislation for the termination of pregnancy on the following grounds:
In the event of this motion passing it would repeal all prior Ard Fheis motions regarding the termination of pregnancy.
National Youth Committee
This Ard Fheis agrees that all Sinn Féin members be allowed to articulate and vote on the issue of abortion according to their conscience.
John Joe Sheehy Cumann (Tralee) French/Doyle Cumann Johnstown (Navan) Thomas Allen Cumann (Trim) Ráth Cairn Cumann Kelly/Arthurs Cumann (Kells) Matthew Kane Cumann (Tullamore) Erris Cumann Logue/Marley Cumann (Crumlin) Tom Keely Cumman (Celbridge) Gallagher/Foy Cumann (Drumconrath) Seosaimh MacDiarmada Cumann (Bohermeen)
This Ard Fheis believes that all Sinn Féin elected representatives should be allowed to vote on the issue of abortion according to their conscience or personal opinion and should not be bound by party policy. Lynch/Grogan Cumann (Duleek/Kentstown) Doherty/Delaney Cumann (Navan) Eneas McNulty Cumann (Achill) Meath Comhairle Ceantair Séamus Fox Cumann (Ratoath) Jimmy Guy Cumann (Limavady) Gleann Na Rua Cumann (Magilligan/Greysteel) Markievicz/O'Farrell Cumann (Tallaght South)
This Ard Fheis believes that a woman’s reproductive rights, and control over her body and sexuality, are entirely a matter for the woman concerned in each particular circumstance.
Pádraig Pearse Cumann (Bogside)
This Ard Fheis recognises that the prospect of Brexit, of the North of Ireland being removed from the European Union against the will of the people, the possibility of the reimposition of a hard border on the island of Ireland, a changing political landscape in the North and demographic changes have all underlined the case for Irish Unity.
Therefore this Ard Fheis:
Ard Chomhairle
This Ard Fheis acknowledges the damage inflicted on the health service North and South by successive right wing governments in Dublin and London and the impact that this is having on the lives of patients, service users, their families and those who work in the health service. Mindful of the need to prepare for Brexit and protect and enhance the cross border services which have been developed to date, we reaffirm our commitment to the delivery of a 32 county rights based health service which is free at the point of delivery and which delivers care based on health need. In order to do this the Ard Fheis mandates the party to develop a fully costed all island health policy which will enhance the delivery of care in the 32 counties and which will have as its foundation legislation for an all-Ireland National Health Service.
Ard Chomhairle
This Ard Fheis reaffirms Sinn Féin’s absolute commitment to tackling and eradicating sectarianism in Irish society.
Sectarianism is the antithesis of Irish Republicanism and the development of an agreed, united Ireland.
It is the most significant obstacle to achieving healing and reconciliation in our society.
We are committed to the principle of the Good Friday Agreement which promised to its citizens "the right to live free from sectarian harassment".
In practice this must include:
We recognise that sectarianism exists throughout Irish society. Sectarian attitudes and behaviour regardless of the source must be actively confronted. Sinn Féin proposes that anti-sectarian measures and initiatives must be embedded within the institutions of government at all levels and that sectarianism is defined as hate crime and enshrined in legislation. To that end this Ard Fheis adopts the policy document One Community - Tackling the scourge of sectarianism in Irish society.
Ard Chomhairle
This Ard Fheis notes that:
South and East Belfast Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis:
Glenavy Cumann
This Ard Fheis recognises:
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 6 Chontae
This Ard Fheis calls for support for the Loughinisland families and all victims of British state collusion. Following the publication of the Police Ombudsman report detailing indisputable and credible evidence of collusion in the Loughinisland Massacre, this Ard Fheis calls on the British Government to publicly apologise, and admit their involvement in the collusion and murders as laid out in the report.
Betsy Gray Cumann (Ballynahinch)
This Ard Fheis welcomes last Septembers decision of the European Committee of Ministers Human Rights Body which highlighted their ‘deep concerns’ around a number of outstanding legacy issues. This decision, lodged against the British Government, included the Pat Finucane case, where the Committee urged further progress on the issue once the Supreme Court appeal by the Finucane family was concluded.
They also;
Fermanagh Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis calls for the immediate release of Tony Taylor and reiterates our support for the human rights of all citizens.
Derry City Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis commends the work of Sinn Féin and other Irish-language activists who are championing our language rights across the island. In particular, this year we commend all those involved in the campaign for the implementation of Acht Gaeilge in the North.
Sinn Féin is committed to the promotion of the Irish Language, to its re- establishment as a major spoken language in Ireland and to the delivery of rights for Irish speakers.
The Ard Fheis acknowledges and commends the significant attention and investment suggested for the Irish Language in Sinn Féin’s Alternative Budget 2018.
This Ard Fheis endorses as party policy the Sinn Féin Irish Language Policy Document ‘Tír gan Teanga, Tír gan Anam’ and commends its detailed proposals relating to:
We further recognise that the Irish Language belongs to all the people of Ireland and that in the context of mutual respect and our multi-cultural society, can contribute most positively to the realisation of an agreed, independent, united Ireland.
Ard Chomhairle
This Ard Fheis:
Coalisland/Clonoe Martyrs Cumann
This Ard Fheis notes with concern the lack of progress in implementing the legacy mechanisms agreed in the Fresh Start Agreement and calls for the British Government to immediately release funding for outstanding legacy investigations.
Coleraine Comhairle Ceantair
This Ard Fheis:
South Down Comhairle Ceantair Seamus Wrynn Cumann (Ballinamore)
This Ard Fheis, in recognition of the fact that on the 21st of January 1919, when Dáil Éireann met for the first time, the business was conducted entirely through the Irish language. In recognition of this, a day should be chosen as close to this date, 100 years later, on which the business of the Dáil will be conducted entirely through Irish.
Seamus Wrynn Cumann (Ballinamore)
This Ard Fheis supports the establishment of an Irish Republican historical library where the recent history and local experiences can be complied and chronicled to ensure our narrative is protected into the future.
Mairéad Farrell Cumann (City Central Ward)
This Ard Fheis:
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish government to make every effort to have Roger Casement’s personal papers, including his diaries and other personal memorabilia returned to Ireland.
John Joe Sheehy Cumann Tralee
This Ard Fheis calls for the introduction of mandatory voting in order to increase the level of political participation and increase the legitimacy of political institutions.
Hurson-Quirke cumann, Galway City West.
This Ard Fheis believes that the office of President is not relevant in modern Ireland.
Cumann Mháirtín Uí Chadhain (South Connemara)
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish government to reduce the cost of becoming an Irish citizen from €1,125 to €60 to properly reflect the administration costs incurred. It is absolutely exploitative to charge somebody €1,125 for something they are entitled to. If someone has lived in Ireland for 7 years (or whatever exact specific time duration or durations) and is entitled to be a naturalised Irish citizen, then that person should receive their citizenship with as little bureaucracy and costs as possible.
Coen/Vaughan Cumann (Drumshanbo)