Ard Fheis 2017 Motions
Fixing the Housing Crisis
Motion 1
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes:
- The escalating housing and homelessness crisis in the 26 Counties;
- The failure of the Irish Government to invest in an adequate supply of
social or affordable housing;
- The failure to properly regulate the private rental sector;
- The failure to address the mortgage arrears crisis in a way that keeps
people in their family home;
- The continued underinvestment of adequate traveller appropriate
accommodation.
- Reaffirms Sinn Féin’s commitment to enshrine the Right to Housing in the
Constitution;
- Calls for:
- A doubling of capital investment in social and affordable housing to deliver
10,000 real social homes and 4,500 affordable rental and purchase homes
in 2018;
- Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act to provide for tenancies of
indefinite duration; restrictions of the grounds landlords can issue notices
to quit; and rent certainty linking rent reviews to an index such as the
Consumer Price Index (CPI);
- The introduction of decisive measures to bring vacant homes back into use;
- The introduction of Public Insolvency Practitioners within the MABS Abhaile
service to advocate on behalf of those in mortgage distress;
- The restoration of the traveller accommodation funding to 2008 levels
and new powers to enable the Minister to enforce the implementation
of Traveller Accommodation Programmes within local authorities where
allocated funds are not being drawn down.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 26 Chontae
Thomas Allen Cumann (Trim)
James Stephens Cumann (Kilkenny City)
Liam Ryan Cumann (Athlone)
Motion 2
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)
Motion 3
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:
- Social housing with catholic households waiting six months longer to be
housed than their protestant counterparts;
- Appropriate accommodation for travellers;
- Adapted housing for people with disabilities.
This Ard Fheis:
- Affirms our commitment to appropriate and affordable accommodation for
all;
- Calls on the British Government to cancel the historic debt currently held by
the Housing Executive;
- Commits to address the lack of site accommodation for travellers;
- Calls for sufficient appropriate adaptations and housing support for people
with disabilities, and;
- Ending housing inequality in all its forms.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 6 Chontae
Motion 4
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)
Motion 5
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
Motion 6
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes that Ballymun Regeneration has been abandoned by the State with
vital infrastructure left unfinished or unrealised;
- Calls for the introduction of a proper community regeneration plan for
Ballymun that is developed following extensive consultation with the
local community and which includes neighbourhood strategies as well as
plans for training and education, physical improvements and economic
development.
McCabe/Quigley Cumann (Ballymun)
Motion 7
This Ard Fheis:
- Supports the full and early implementation of the eight technical
recommendations of the report of the Expert Panel on Concrete Blocks in
counties Donegal and Mayo;
- Calls on the Irish Government to immediately deliver fairness and justice for
impacted homeowners and introduce a redress scheme for affected families
and householders.
Carndonagh/Malin Cumann
Motion 8
This Ard Fheis:
- Expresses concern at the deepening housing crisis, particularly in Dublin;
- Notes that:
- The housing crisis in Dublin has been caused in large part by consecutive
Irish Government’s cutting capital budgets to Dublin local authorities;
- Housing people in hotels and B&Bs is unacceptable;
- Family hubs are not the long term solution to the housing crisis;
- The long term solution is a comprehensive social and affordable home
building programme.
- Proposes that the Irish Government:
- Commits to delivering 10,000 social housing units until the housing crisis
is over;
- Introduces legislation for affordable buying and renting of homes;
- Ensures relevant Ministers make public land in the ownership of CIE
and OPW available to Dublin's local authorities for the purpose of
constructing social and affordable housing;
- Ensures that the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government
addresses the bureaucratic nature of the approval, funding and
procurement process. This process must be reduced to an efficient,
transparent one stage process;
- Notwithstanding current processes of engagement with private sector for
the development of sites under the Land Initiative, funds and supports
council led mixed tenure development on local authority lands in Dublin;
- Provides increased funding to local authorities to reduce the turnaround
time on voids;
- Introduces legislation to reduce the time developers are allowed to sit on
rezoned land before it has to be built on;
- Makes social and affordable housing exempt from the €20m cap
imposed by the Public Spending Review 2011.
Dublin Cúige
Motion 9
This Ard Fheis recognises that:
- Fuel poverty is a very real challenge for families in Dublin City Council
housing;
- 8,653 Dublin City Council homes urgently need insulating;
- A full insulation programme for Dublin would cost €139m but that Dublin City
Council has a shortfall of €40m.
This Ard Fheis therefore calls on the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local
Government to work with Dublin City Council management and Councillors to source
this funding as a matter of urgency.
James Connolly Cumann (Ballyfermot)
Motion 10
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)
Sinn Féin in Government
Motion 11
This Ard Fheis notes:
- The significant electoral and political progress made by Sinn Féin in recent
years, including the increase in Sinn Féin representation on local councils,
in the European Parliament, in the Assembly and in Leinster House, and the
increased party mandate received in this year’s Westminister election;
- The strong record of delivery of Sinn Féin government Ministers in the
Northern Executive, as well as the work of our TDs and Seanadóirí in
the Oireachtas, our MEPs in the European Parliament and our MPs and
councillors;
- Our commitment and ambition to implement Sinn Féin polices in
government, North and South.
This Ard Fheis further notes:
- The increased politicisation over recent years of people of all generations, but
particularly young people, affected by austerity and the failure of the policies
and ideologies that have been, and are being, pursued by the establishment
parties;
- That we are in a period of political transformation, in Ireland and
internationally, which presents the opportunity for the growth of progressive
politics and for Sinn Féin to become the largest party in the 26 Counties and
the Six Counties;
- That change is not brought about solely through electoral politics, but
through activism, debate, the battle of ideas, politicisation and influencing
public opinion to create a popular demand for political change.
This Ard Fheis reiterates Sinn Féin’s commitment to:
- Build popular support for a United Ireland governed in the interests of
all that is based on fairness, equality and a commitment to progressively
improving the lives of all citizens;
- Continue to work towards becoming the largest party in both the 26 Counties
and the Six Counties;
- Pending the re-unification of Ireland, lead a progressive government in the 26
Counties and to implement our polices in government, north and south.
- This Ard Fheis reaffirms that any decision regarding Sinn Féin’s entry into a
coalition government in the 26 Counties will be made by a Special Ard Fheis,
convened for that purpose, and will be based on the party’s ability to secure a
progressive, Republican programme for government.
Ard Chomhairle
Lawlor/Mulvihill/Clashmealcon Martyrs Cumann (Ballyheigue/Causeway/Ballyduff)
Keating/Sands Cumann (Comeragh)
Charlie McGlade Cumann (Drimnagh)
Motion 12
This Ard Fheis:
- Recognises:
- The growth and political success of Sinn Féin over recent years as
a result of the hard work of our activists, members, employees and
elected representatives;
- The desire of Sinn Féin members for our party to be in government in
the 26 counties;
- Our commitment to delivering a 32 County Socialist Republic.
- Notes the record of parties who have gone in as junior coalition partners
with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the past and the need for a strong political
opposition in the Dáil;
- States that Sinn Féin will not go into Government as a junior coalition
partner with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael after the next general election.
Peadar Clancy/Mairéad Farrell Cumann (Ennis)
Joe McDonnell Cumann (Drumkeeran)
Motion 13
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)
Motion 14
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)
Motion 15
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)
Motion 16
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)
Motion 17
This Ard Fheis notes with concern that:
- Tory cuts to public services have had severe impacts upon the delivery of
education, healthcare and essential public services in the North;
- Children, people with disabilities, elderly and sick people are paying the
price of Tory cuts;
- Public services will be cut by 3.1% in real terms over the as a direct result of
the Tory cuts programme supported by the DUP.
This Ard Fheis is opposed to Tory/DUP cuts and calls on both the Tories and the
DUP to abandon cuts in favour of an economic stimulus and investment in essential
public services.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 6 Chontae
Motion 18
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
Motion 19
This Ard Fheis:
- Recognises
- That public services have been undermined by under investment
and privatisation, and that in many cases ‘transformation’ has been a
euphemism for privatisation and marketisation;
- The damage done by an ideological agenda that has sought to diminish
the reputation of the public sector, including public sector workers, and
to undermine support for public services;
- Public services which are universal and which treat each citizen on the
basis of need are essential in making the lives of all of our citizens better.
- Reaffirms Sinn Féin’s commitment to:
- The provision of public services as a cornerstone of what the state
does for its citizens;
- Strengthening public services to ensure the highest quality of public
services are available to all;
- Opposing the privatisation and marketisation of public services;
- Ensure the efficient provision of public services and social protections;
- Increasing investment in public services to be paid for through a
progressive tax system;
- Valuing the work of all those who work in the public sector, and
reflecting this in the pay and conditions of public sector workers.
Wicklow Comhairle Ceantair
McCabe/Quigley Cumann (Ballymun)
Motion 20
This Ard Fheis:
- Condemns the unfair 2018 Budget of the Irish Government which:
- Normalises and tolerates mass homelessness among our people,
including children, and fails to even fund to the point of maintenance
a health system that is in a state of permanent crisis;
- Has been criticised by workers and activists in the health and housing
sectors;
- Fails to invest in infrastructure such as water, transport, cross-border
infrastructure, energy and flood defences;
- Does not address inequalities in the social protection system affecting
women and younger people;
- Will only create a more unequal Ireland by perpetuating the economic
and social inequalities rampant in modern Ireland.
- Commends the Sinn Féin alternative which:
- Builds a sustainable and fair tax system including the abolition of the
Local Property Tax;
- Invests in our health and housing systems so that the rights of the
people are respected;
- Protects our most vulnerable;
- Tackles tax avoidance by vulture funds, banks, multinational
companies and investors so that they pay a fair share;
- Would halve the cost of childcare for families;
- Chooses to take the side of ordinary people;
- Creates an all-island infrastructure plan to safeguard the country’s
interests as Brexit approaches;
- Is based on the vision of a prosperous, sustainable and united
economy with public services and infrastructure fit for that society.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 26 Chontae
Motion 21
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
Motion 22
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:
- Apply to all public sector contracts;
- Ensure that social value is considered at every stage of procurement from
the business case, to the award criteria, through to the monitoring of
performance;
- Include measures that ensure compliance on behalf of both
commissioners and contractors;
- Ensure a level playing field for SMEs and community groups.
Joe McManus Cumann (Garrison)
Motion 23
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)
Motion 24
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)
Motion 25
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:
- Significantly increase the number of apprentices in training;
- Treble the number of apprenticeship programmes available;
- Greatly increase the female participation rate, from the current 0.3%;
- Ensure greater involvement of people with disabilities in the
apprenticeship system;
- Promote apprenticeships as an equal alternative third level choice.
Clancy/O'Callaghan Cumann (Limerick City North)
Meath Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 26
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)
Motion 27
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes that approximately 17.2% of the workforce in the 26 Counties is
classed as self-employed. Their value to our economy is well documented
and yet they are treated in a totally unfair manner by this and previous
governments when it comes to the right to have access to social welfare
payments should they need them. They are also treated unequally under
the tax system;
- Calls for Sinn Féin to develop a costed policy that delivers equality to the
legitimately self-employed in relation to access to social welfare payments.
Clare Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 28
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)
Motion 29
This Ard Fheis:
- Proposes that the special arrangement with the major banks in the
26 Counties that relieves them of their responsibilities to pay any
corporation tax for the next 20 years be reversed;
- Notes that these institutions would not be in existence today
were it not for the sacrifices of a generation of ordinary citizens,
and probably another generation to come, and that it is therefore
incumbent on those institutions who have received massive state
aid and are currently in profit to pay their share of tax in the
interests of fairness and equality to all taxpayers.
Cork City Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 30
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
Motion 31
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
Motion 32
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)
Motion 33
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)
Motion 34
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)
Motion 35
This Ard Fheis:
- Recognises the role of the tourism industry in developing the wider
economy;
- Calls for continued support to the industry and especially those
statutory organisations tasked with developing tourism and
growing visitor numbers onto the island of Ireland;
- Commends the community impact and outworking of initiatives
such as the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East where the
success of these has been determined by the impact felt at a local
level and in bringing about regional spread of tourism ensuring the
economic impact is felt across the country;
- Calls on Ministers and agencies on both sides of the border to
ensure these successful projects are developed further to include
the entire island and for the continued protection of cross border
bodies and resist any attempt to undermine those institutions that
are protected under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
Black Mountain Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 36
This Ard Fheis:
- Is totally opposed to the British Government’s imposition of the two-child
limit on Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit and Income Support payments;
- Condemns utterly the disgraceful and repugnant rape clause exception,
which will force victims of rape seeking to claim child tax credits for a
third or subsequent child, to declare that the child was born as a result
of non-consensual sex;
- Believes this policy to be unfair, unequal, morally unacceptable, deeply
harmful to women and their children and a fundamental violation of
women’s human rights;
- Calls on the British Government to overturn this policy in the north of
Ireland and to ensure that this action is not deemed a breach of the
principle of parity in matters of social security.
Limavady Comhairle Ceantair
Tom Flatley Cumann (Enniskillen)
Motion 37
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
Brexit and the Future of the EU
Motion 38
This Ard Fheis:
- Reaffirms Sinn Féin’s position that the democratic will of the people of
the north to remain in the EU must be respected, that the Good Friday
Agreement must be protected in all of its parts and that there can be no
hardening of Britain’s border in Ireland;
- Recognises:
- The excellent work done by the Sinn Féin MEPs led by Martina
Anderson to represent the party position on Brexit in Europe;
- That there are only two ways that the above objectives can be
achieved: either through designated special status for the north of
Ireland within the EU or by the holding of a unity referendum leading
to Irish re-unification.
- That the essential elements of Special Designated Status are:
- The north to remain in Customs Union and Single Market;
- The Good Friday Agreement to be protected in all of its parts;
- Freedom of movement of people, goods and services on the island of
Ireland;
- All citizens of the north of Ireland being entitled to full EU citizenship
rights;
- Continued access for citizens in the north to European Court of
Justice;
- Full EU political rights for citizens in the north of Ireland;
- Continued access to EU funding streams;
- The Good Friday Agreement attached as legally binding declaration in
the Withdrawal Agreement.
- All the institutions and cross-border bodies of the Good Friday
Agreement remain within the EU legal framework.
- Affirms that if the British Government refuses to agree to Special
Designated Status within the EU despite the fact that 56% of the people
of the north voted to remain in the EU, then the Good Friday Agreement
entitlement to a unity referendum must be triggered to give the people
of the north and south of Ireland the choice on the future direction for
the island of Ireland.
Ard Chomhairle
Pól Kinsella Cumann (Northlands)
Motion 39
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:
- Believes that a convention and an intergovernmental conference on the
future of Europe should be established that will facilitate the repatriation
of powers to members states including treaty change if necessary;
- Believes that the future of the EU depends on reducing the power of
the undercover corporate lobbying machine which has been allowed to
grow unregulated and with unfettered access to unaccountable decision-
makers in the European Commission;
- Believes that reform of the EU must necessarily involve confronting
and untangling bureaucracy that has built up around so many EU
programmes, projects and funding mechanisms. This bureaucracy takes
projects out of the hands and control of citizens and has reduced the
possibility for democratic input;
- Believes that the Free Trade Agenda which the European Commission
is pushing with privatisation and deregulation at its helm, will do
irreparable damage to workers’ rights, the environment, public services
and rural communities;
- Supports building a Social Europe that prioritises ordinary citizens over
the bottom line of multinationals, reduces inequalities, fights against
social exclusion and meets the social needs of European citizens;
- Reiterates its opposition to an EU Army and a European defence budget
which will not only compromise Ireland’s neutrality, but will reinforce
‘fortress Europe’, shamefully denying safe and legal passage for
refugees;
- Asserts that as a relatively small, peripheral member state, Ireland
needs to be forceful in the defence of its sovereignty and in seeking
the return of powers to member states. This necessarily involves the
Irish Government standing up to our European partners on key topics
including attempts to force us to liberalise public services, sign away
access to our marine resources, moves to federalise the provision of
energy, and policies which directly threaten our rural population.
Ard Chomhairle
Midlands/North West Cúige
Motion 40
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)
Motion 41
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:
- Alert the Irish public of the possible detrimental threat Brexit may bring
to an industry already severely damaged by decades of neglect by
previous Irish Governments and EU expansionism;
- Scrutinise the ongoing negotiations between the EU and the British
Government regarding the Common Fisheries Policy and ensure those
engaged in the Irish fishing industry do not lose any more of their rights
to harvest fish stocks from the seas surrounding the island of Ireland;
- Help protect the economic wellbeing of our coastal communities
that have a stake in the Irish fishing industry from any negative
consequences that may arise from Brexit.
McGrath/O’Brien Cumann (East Waterford)
Motion 42
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
Motion 43
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)
Infrastructure, Regional and Rural Development
Motion 44
This Ard Fheis notes that:
- Under the current Rural Development Programme (2014-2020)
the transfer of LEADER to local authority control in almost every
county has effectively removed LEADER from local community-led
organisations and put it under State control. This has resulted in new
rules and processes that have prevented the roll out of this badly
needed rural development funding for the past three years;
- LEADER was established 25 years ago to address rural decline through
local community led partnerships and, until now, the 26 Counties has
led the way in Europe;
- The policy change under two Fine Gael led Irish Governments,
which constitutes a local authority takeover of bottom-up
development, will inevitably lead to the decline and disappearance
of real community-led development organisations in the State. The
myriad of problems with the roll out of LEADER is clear evidence that
State body management of such a community-led programme will fail.
This Ard Fheis therefore calls on the Irish Government to ensure that, under
the Rural Development Programme 2021-27, the LEADER programme will no
longer be delivered by local authorities but will be returned to local community-
led organisations which are comprised of, and represent, the rural communities
they serve. We also call for the simplification of the application process for
LEADER funding and expedite the roll out of funding under the programme, so
that badly needed European rural development funding can reach those most
in need of it.
Kerry Comhairle Ceantair
Deleaney/O’Rahilly Cumann (Bray)
Motion 45
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
Motion 46
This Ard Fheis:
- Condemns the historical and continuing under-investment of the west
of Ireland by successive Irish Governments and;
- Calls on the Fine Gael-led Government to carry out a comprehensive
geographic analysis of the State's National Development Plans of
previous years with a view to formulating and implementing a strategy
that will effectively address the east-west economic imbalance.
Noble Six/Fr. O`Flanagan/MacManus Cumann (Sligo Town)
Motion 47
This Ard Fheis:
- Supports and encourages the positive efforts of all involved, working
together to collectively resource the North West City Region priorities
for growth and development;
- Recognising the significant positive impact that the National Planning
Framework (NPF) ‘Ireland 2040 Our Plan’ will have on the regions of
the 26 Counties:
- Resolves to campaign and lobby vigorously to press the Irish
Government for a commitment to deliver to the North West City
Region in the NPF;
- Appropriate supports to permit provision of regional economic
growth, investment, physical and environmental development,
wellbeing and social and community cohesion.
Carndonagh/Malin Cumann
Motion 48
This Ard Fheis:
- Believes that by investing west of the Bann, we can tackle the years
of neglect through developing infrastructure, jobs and industry in the
North;
- Calls on NIE and SONI to ensure that there is a constant and secure
supply of electricity to areas west of the Bann by providing the
electricity interconnector to ensure supply to our growing industrial
sector, particularly the locally developed engineering sector.
South & East Tyrone Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 49
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)
Motion 50
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
Motion 51
This Ard Fheis calls for the restoration of the Town Councils and the Town
Council Block Grants.
Tipperary Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 52
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
Motion 53
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)
Motion 54
This Ard Fheis:
- Condemns the actions of insurance companies in increasing
premiums across the board for motorists, refusing to insure older
cars which have passed their NCT and pricing young people out of the
motor insurance market;
- Believes that astronomical car insurance costs for younger people are
disproportionately affecting those in rural communities where there is
very little, if any, public transport available and;
- Calls on the Irish Government to bring in an Insurance Regulator at
the earliest possible stage with a view to ending the scandal of rapidly
increasing car insurance premiums.
Patrick Conroy Cumann (Castlerea)
Robert Emmet Cumann (Thurles)
Noel McCann Cumann (Ballinasloe)
Motion 55
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
Motion 56
This Ard Fheis calls for legislation to ensure safety roll bars are a requirement
on all quad bikes.
McEvilly/O'Malley Cumann (Castlebar)
Motion 57
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)
Motion 58
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)
Motion 59
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)
Motion 60
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)
Agriculture and fisheries
Motion 61
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:
- It is scandalous and immoral that 240 farm businesses are receiving
CAP subsidies in excess of €100,000, when thousands of farmers
struggle to get by with payments below the average of €17,932;
- The failure of successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael-led Governments to
put a cap on these payments has allowed the concentration of wealth
in the hands of those already controlling the market and therefore the
prices other farmers receive;
- A cap of €50,000 on Basic Payments should be enforced to restore
integrity to a system that has seen the meat processing companies
which control the market pocket millions each CAP cycle;
- Binding legislation must be put in place to tackle unfair trading
practices in the food supply chain, and guarantee the position of
farmers to receive a fair price for their product;
- Key parts of the Farmer’s Charter related to the on-time delivery of
payments by the Department of Agriculture should be transposed
into legislation so that never again are farmers left out of pocket by
delayed payments of up to 9 months;
- Generational renewal strategies within the agricultural sector must
address issues of depopulation of rural areas, as well as providing
security for older farmers who wish to retire; the insufficient targeting
of young farmers through funding streams must also be addressed if
we are to reduce the trend of an aging sector;
- Farm safety must become a priority in future funding programmes
now that 30% of workplace deaths in the State occur in the
agricultural sector;
- Financial incentives should be created to encourage the establishment
of cooperative meat processing facilities to counter Irish Government
approved mergers which are currently swallowing the market and
farm-gate prices.
Ard Chomhairle
Motion 62
This Ard Fheis:
- Recognises the difficulties experienced by Irish fishermen and women
in securing a viable livelihood due to both natural and regulatory
barriers;
- Acknowledges that the fishing industry has been poorly represented by
the Irish Government at EU level in recent decades;
- Notes that since the mid-1990s, there has been a sharp and steady
decline in the fishing industry which has caused distress and hardship
for ordinary fishermen and women and the complementary sectors;
- Calls for the inclusion of fishermen and women in the Seafarers'
Allowance Scheme in the 26 Counties;
- Calls for the Irish Government to introduction a Single Boat Payment;
- Recognises the work of Sinn Féin activists, supporters and public
representatives, particularly Liadh Ní Riada MEP & Martin Ferris
TD, in supporting ordinary fishermen and women, but regrets that
the absence and lack of support from other political parties and the
Irish Government has had the effect of alienating coastal, island and
rural communities.
This Ard Fheis notes the:
- Lack of Irish quota which has resulted in Irish fishing vessels being
unable to provide an adequate return for owners and crews;
- Lack of income which means fishermen and their families are already
struggling financially;
- Imposition of penalties as well as heavy handed tactics by the Sea-
Fisheries Protection Authority which have resulted in the criminalisation
of fishermen for minor infringements;
- Unfair distribution of quota (mackerel and herring) among our fisheries
ports, mainly due to past political cronyism;
- Concern regarding the new landing regulations;
- Lack of a state relief fund for fishermen and women who have
experienced financial hardship and operational difficulties due to
damage or loss of equipment;
- Fact that a significant portion of fish taken from Irish waters is landed in
Ireland but transported and processed abroad or at sea at the socio-
economic expense of domestic community enterprises;
- Calls for 5% of EU quotas, instead of 2% to be set aside for scientific
surveys so that fishermen can participate in providing researchers with
the true data of fish stocks in real time, and in order to remove the
restrictions imposed on fishing vessels who do not have enough quota.
Donnacha De Barra Cumann (Kinsale)
Motion 63
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
Motion 64
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes the additional difficulties which hill farmers experience on the
island of Ireland;
- Opposes the removal of the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme
in the North by the previous Agricultural Minister, Michelle McElveen
(DUP);
- Notes that former Sinn Féin Agricultural Ministers O'Neill and Gildernew
kept the ANC Scheme open for farmers in the Severely Disadvantaged
Areas and acknowledges the vital contribution these farmers make;
- Pledges that Sinn Féin in any future Executive will do everything
possible to reintroduce the ANC Scheme to at least the 2016 level;
- Calls for the restoration of Pre – 2008 levels of ANC payments in the
26 Counties and that the highest levels of payments would go to the
holdings with the most disadvantaged land.
Fergal O'Hanlon Cumann (Brookeborough)
James Crossan Cumann (Cloone/Aughavas)
Motion 65
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)
Motion 66
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)
Motion 67
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)
Motion 68
This Ard Fheis:
- Recognises the environmental damage caused by precious metals
mining and the extraction of Ireland’s non-renewable natural
resources by large corporate entities with little or no benefit to local
communities;
- Is opposed to the use of cyanide in mining due to its detrimental
environmental and health implications;
- Will undertake to review and amend in government the current
mining licence system to ensure the public interest, community gain
and environmental protection are underpinned in new regulations
and furthermore will oppose private sector gold mining companies
from being awarded permission to operate in Ireland.
South Armagh Comhairle Ceantair
Caraher/McCreesh Cumann (Ballymacnab & Granemore)
Motion 69
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
Motion 70
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)
Motion 71
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)
Motion 72
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)
International solidarity, global justice and climate change
Motion 73
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)
Motion 74
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)
Motion 75
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)
Motion 76
This Ard Fheis notes:
- The growing human rights violations by private sector businesses
around the world and recognises the need to regulate and monitor
businesses to ensure full compliance with human rights standards;
- That those who stand up and defend vulnerable communities against
human rights violations are often made targets themselves;
- The importance of providing protection and support to human rights
defenders and community leaders who stand up for the rights of
others.
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)
Motion 77
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes that there is an unprecedented 65.6 million people forcibly
displaced from their homes around the world, which includes 22.5
million people who are refugees outside their home country;
- Opposes the EU-Turkey deal and the EU’s military mission in the
Mediterranean, Operation Sophia, as both have created huge human
suffering, the violation of human rights, and humanitarian crises;
- Calls on the Irish Government to oppose these counterproductive
deals and the EU’s efforts to create similar deals with other countries
in Africa and Asia, and to instead create more safe and legal pathways
for refugees to get sanctuary in Ireland and Europe.
Markievicz/Ryan Cumann (Tallaght Central)
Motion 78
This Ard Fheis notes that:
- On 17 October 2011, an international conference for the resolution
of the conflict in the Basque Country took place in Donostia/San
Sebastian. International representation included former Secretary
General of the UN, Kofi Annan, and Sinn Féin President, Gerry Adams
TD;
- ETA’s declaration of a definitive cessation was announced a few days
later, creating a unique and historic opportunity to address the causes
as well as the consequences of the conflict;
- In April 2017, and despite all efforts to block it by the Spanish
Government, ETA, with the support of Basque civil society, the
International Commission on Verification, Basque local institutions as
well as French Government, successfully proceeded to complete its
disarmament;
- Despite all efforts promoted by ETA, Sortu, Basque society and the
main parties in general for the complete resolution of the Basque
conflict, the Spanish government maintains its policy of intransigence.
This Ard Fheis therefore supports the:
- Ending of the policy of dispersal (an arbitrary measure applied to
Basque political prisoners) and the immediate transfer to prisons
closer to their families as a first step to an early release process of all
politically-motivated prisoners;
- Immediate release of seriously-ill prisoners who, according to current
legislation, should be freed to receive adequate treatment for their
illnesses;
- Immediate release of prisoners eligible for parole.
- Furthermore, this Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government, the
political institutions in the North as well as the EU to take an active
role in demanding the Spanish Government shift its current policy
of obstruction that is diminishing this historical opportunity and to
instead promote and support a process of dialogue to achieve a just
and lasting peace in the Basque Country based on the right of Basque
people to decide freely about its future.
Wicklow Comhairle Ceanntair
Motion 79
This Ard Fheis:
- Reiterates our call for the USA to unconditionally and fully lift its illegal
blockade of, and to normalise its relations with, Cuba;
- Recognises that 9 October and 25 November 2017 mark the 50th
anniversary of Ché Guevara’s killing and the 1st anniversary of Fidel
Castro’s death respectively;
- Sends our solidarity greetings to the Guevara and Castro families, and
to the people of Cuba.
Upper Falls Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 80
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes that in June 2017 the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) announced it ceased to be an armed group
and on 1 September 2017 a political party – Common Alternative
Revolutionary Force (FARC) – was formally established;
- Believes that despite this positive advancement in the Colombian
peace process there remain barriers to building the peace,
including the on-going attacks and killing of human rights
defenders and community leaders by right-wing paramilitaries;
- Calls on the Colombian Government to ensure that human rights
and the democratic process are respected, and for it to fully deliver
its side of the peace agreement, urgently resolving its outstanding
obligations.
Upper Falls Comhairle Ceantair
Climate change
Motion 81
This Ard Fheis recognises that:
- Climate change is an issue of global justice with many of the
poorest people and those in the developing world already worst
affected;
- Climate change has had serious negative impacts on our quality of
life and that, unless radical action is taken, future generations will
face a hostile climate, depleted resources, destruction of habitats,
extinction of species, food and water scarcity and mass migrations;
- Ireland has a responsibility to invest in our future by investing in
measures to tackle climate change and to protect our environment;
- Ireland must play a proactive role in global efforts including
the Paris Agreement to combat climate change and to tackle
environmental degradation;
- Ireland should aim to be a leader within the EU and seek to
exceed the binding 2030 climate energy framework targets of 40%
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 27% share in renewable
energy and a 27% improvement in energy efficiency;
- Green energy employment is growing at a faster pace than other
energy sectors and investment in green energy and infrastructure
should be encouraged;
- Energy efficiency is key to bridging our emissions gap and all new
builds should include efficiency measures and expansion of current
retrofit energy efficient programmes is necessary.
This Ard Fheis therefore commits Sinn Féin to reviewing the party's
approach to environmental and climate change policy to achieve greater
coherence and to ensure that all relevant economic and social policies
have - at their core - a new vision of sustainable prosperity consistent with
ecological limits and climate justice. The review could take on board current
research on 'planetary boundaries' that defines the safe operating space for
humanity.
Ard Chomhairle
Charlie McGlade Cumann (Drimnagh)
Coleraine Comhairle Ceantair
Nolan/Downey Cumann (Laganbank)
Motion 82
This Ard Fheis acknowledges that:
- Our current economic growth paradigm has not resulted in
corresponding decreases in poverty or greater prosperity in more
recent years;
- The drive for continuous growth has led to spiralling environmental
devastation and endemic social and economic inequalities;
- A radically alternative approach is needed in our economic
paradigm if we are to address these problems;
- A credible alternative to the economic growth paradigm is the
steady-state paradigm which requires that we live sustainably
(within the finite means of our natural resources) and that we
replace economic growth with economic development. In a steady-
state economy, we do grow but not by using more of everything;
rather we grow by making better use of what we have and being
smarter in how we use it.
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)
Motion 83
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
Motion 84
This Ard Fheis calls on Sinn Féin to examine:
- A full, renewable and sustainable energy programme that involves
local communities and ordinary residential citizens investment;
- Opening the energy market to ordinary citizens by introducing a
feed-in tariff for both local communities and residential micro-
generation. Opening the energy market to micro-generation will
help rural communities find new revenue streams, create jobs and
help drive innovation;
- Enabling local authorities to invest in renewable projects, which in
turn will give a financial return to local authorities and helping to
reduce financial dependence from central government.
Ruth Hackett Cumann (Maynooth)
Mitchell/Sands Cumann (Magheracloone)
Keenan/Doherty Cumann (Carrickmacross)
Motion 85
This Ard Fheis calls on the British and Irish Governments to commit to the
Bonn Challenge which seeks to:
- Restore forests through mass sapling planting on appropriate
open mountain land with native woodland species and alternative
hardwood trees such as larch;
- Better utilise forestry as a mechanism to meet climate change
targets and to increase recreational amenities for community and
tourism purposes.
Grey Abbey Martyrs Cumann (Kildare Town)
Motion 86
This Ard Fheis:
- Deplores the mass felling of trees which is creating unsightly areas
of landscape around the countryside;
- Suggests that a four tree deep barrier of hardwood trees be
planted around forestry areas so that these can be left to form a
visual barrier to the devastation when felling takes place;
- Suggests the replacement of sitka spruce with hardwoods such as
larch.
Cumann Caisleán Nua Thiar
Motion 87
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)
Party Development, constitution and rules
Motion 88
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
Motion 89
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)
Motion 90
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)
Motion 91
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)
Motion 92
This Ard Fheis:
- Acknowledges that many members currently elected or co-opted
to represent Sinn Féin have other means of salaried employment
in addition to their council pay and are free to continue with that
employment;
- Agrees that there should be no prohibition on Sinn Féin Councillors
working for the party or for other Sinn Féin elected representatives on
a full or part time basis.
Devlin/Plunkett Cumann (Templeogue/Terenure)
Drumm/Doherty/Clarke Cumann (Clondalkin)
Bob Smith Cumann (Dundrum)
Motion 93
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes the importance of the party’s youth wing and their input towards
building a progressive future, equal for all;
- Believes that in order to successfully achieve and fulfil SFRY’S
commitments, a budget is needed to cover costs of organising
campaigns and events as well as supporting, when needed, young
activists with transport and accommodation costs;
- Believes that this budget should be administered by the National Youth
Committee subject to party rules and allocated annually by Sinn Féin.
Roscommon Comhairle Ceantair
National Youth Committee
Motion 94
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)
Motion 95
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
Motion 96
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)
Motion 97
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
Motion 98
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes that December 14th 2018 will mark the centenary of universal
suffrage;
- Recognises:
- That equality as the cornerstone of republicanism;
- That while some progress has been made for women in this
country, targets of 30% representation for women fall well short
of equality when women make up 50% of the population;
- Reiterates Sinn Féin’s target of achieving 50% female representation
in party membership, on internal party committees and structures
as well as in public representation.
North Clare Cumann
Justice and Equality
Motion 99
This Ard Fheis:
- Believes that the An Garda Síochána and the PSNI must consistently
work with local communities, as such a strong working relationship
is at the core of good policing throughout the island;
- Supports effective civic policing by police services that must be
accountable, free from partisan political control, and representative
of the community they serve;
- Welcomes the recognition in the Terms of Reference for the
Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland of the need for
an ethos and culture that “engages pro-actively, routinely and
continuously with, and is responsive to the needs of, the diverse
communities it serves”;
- Is concerned at current trends in the North towards an
overemphasis on the hard end of policing at the expense of the
concerns and priorities of local communities as well as having
concerns about the ongoing crises currently facing An Garda
Síochána, and the public confidence in the force at present;
- Views communities as an essential asset in assisting with policing
and community safety solutions working in partnership with the
PSNI or Gardaí.
This Ard Fheis mandates Sinn Féin to:
- Continue to demand that communities receive a policing service that
has 'policing with the community' as its core principle with solutions
co-designed between communities and police;
- Engage with all policing institutions at every level, North and
South, in pursuit of 'Policing with the Community'. This will include
the accountability mechanisms in existence and third sector and
campaigning groups who are working to make policing structures
truly representative of, and a service to, the public;
- Campaign to maintain and enhance the human rights approach
which will be central to a civic police service;
- Support the new beginning to policing and the rule of law in the
North while remaining vigilant and critical of any misuse of policing
powers by anyone;
- Support policing and the rule of law in the South while pursuing the
necessary legislative and other changes to strengthen accountability
and to prevent any recurrence of recent scandals which has damaged
the reputation of An Garda Síochána.
This Ard Fheis calls:
- On the Gardaí to implement the recommendations of the Garda
Inspectorate 2015 Report ‘Changing Policing in Ireland’;
- For the Policing Authority in the South to be fully independent,
representative, to include political representation, and to be given the
powers necessary to ensure that it is fit to hold An Garda Síochána
and its leadership to account, and to recruit and remove senior
officers;
- For additional powers for GSOC, to improve its operation and enhance
its scope;
- For the establishment of a Criminal Justice Inspectorate, to replace the
Garda Inspectorate, and capable of inspecting the range of criminal
justice organisations, agencies and services.
Ard Chomhairle
Motion 100
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)
Motion 101
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes that:
- The Mediation Act 2017 which places mediation at the centre of
resolving issues around family breakdown was signed into law by
the Irish President on 2nd October;
- It is well established across a number of jurisdictions that family
mediation improves outcomes for children when families break
up as it allows families to agree what will happen rather than the
adversarial approach involved in court proceedings;
- Calls on Sinn Féin to promote family mediation on an all-Ireland basis
and to work for a society where family mediation is the default first
approach to family breakdown.
Burns/McKerr/Toman Cumann (Lurgan)
Motion 102
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to provide increased supports for
families going through divorce or separation proceedings:
- To include provision for a new family law court system entirely
separate from the criminal courts;
- To be located in purpose built family oriented centres which will be
fully funded;
- To provide free mediation services with an emphasis on non-
adversarial solutions;
- Where parties seeking a divorce or separation don’t qualify for legal
aid, a reasonable set number of hours of free legal representation will
be granted where required;
- However, the right of either party to decline legal representation in
order to represent themselves should be upheld and respected;
- In such cases, a relevant alternative person of their choice may
accompany either party at court, to be selected with the agreement
of the presiding judge and with consideration that the presence of
that particular person will not cause distress or detriment to the
other party, to be permitted only on condition of an undertaking of
confidentiality of the proceedings.
West Waterford Cumann
Motion 103
This Ard Fheis notes:
- The prevalence of domestic violence and abuse across all sections of
society North and South;
- That resources for survivors of domestic abuse are severely lacking
with thousands of women and children unable to access emergency
refuge accommodation;
- That ending the scourge of domestic violence must be a priority to
ensure a healthy society;
- That accessing legal protections can be particularly difficult for women
from poorer backgrounds;
- That as well as the physical, psychological and financial consequences
of domestic abuse, it can also have a detrimental impact on the job
performance of many survivors leading to disciplinary action and a
loss of job security;
- That, crucially, the victim of domestic abuse is never to blame.
Accordingly this Ard Fheis calls for:
- The timely progression of the Domestic Violence Bill and the
ratification of the Istanbul Convention;
- An increase in funding and capacity in domestic violence refuges;
- The implementation of a "Donna's Law" to be explored which would
ensure domestic crimes constitute a criminal offence, as well as a
disclosure scheme and amendment of housing allocation rules;
- A waiver scheme for survivors who should not have to pay the
minimum €130 charge for legal aid when applying for court
protections;
- The implementation of legislation which makes coercive and
controlling behaviour an offence.
Furthermore this Ard Fheis calls for employers across the island to
implement domestic violence workplace policies and that the party
parliamentary teams will work towards this becoming a statutory requirement
for all employers
Mulgrew/McCracken Cumann (Castle)
Tom Flatley Cumann (Enniskillen)
Barney Morris Seamus Harvey Cumann, Crossmaglen
Clonard Martyrs Cumann
Motion 104
This Ard Fheis:
- Recognises that child rearing and being a parent is the most important
role any person can ever have, makes a massive contribution to
society and should continue to be recognized in the constitution;
- Commits Sinn Féin to campaigning for the retention of Article 41.2 of
Bunreacht na hÉireann with amendment in the interest of equality to
replace references to women specifically with parents.
Tracey Cre Cumann Roscrea
Motion 105
This Ard Fheis, noting lack of maternity leave for local elected representatives,
calls on the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to:
- Conduct a legal review of the Local Government Act 2001, Article 37
which states that a public representative absent from their post for
more than 6 months will be deemed resigned. This does not cover
cases of maternity leave and therefore is discriminatory and the
legislation is conflicting;
- Introduce maternity leave entitlements for elected representatives.
Ireland South Cúige
Motion 106
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)
A National Health Service for Ireland
Motion 107
This Ard Fheis:
- Endorses former Health Minister Michelle O'Neill's 10 year vision
for transforming health and social care in the north of Ireland,
"Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together";
- Emphasises the importance of the principles of co-design and
co-production-designing and delivering transformation in
partnership with those who use and deliver health and social care
services enshrined in Delivering Together;
- Welcomes the endorsement it received by the former Executive
and the cross-party support it received;
- Recognises that the successful implementation of Delivering
Together is subject to adequate investment being made in
transformation and requires the maintenance of existing services
to allow transformation to be established;
- Notes that continued savage Tory cuts are a serious barrier to the
success of transformation and will require a concerted effort by
all parties to protect health and social care from its impact.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 6 Chontae
Motion 108
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:
- There are nearly 700,000 people on hospital waiting lists;
- 2017 could see over 100,000 patients being left on trolleys
throughout the state;
- Waiting lists for occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech
and language therapy, and physiotherapy stretch from months
into years;
- There are mental health services are completely inadequately
funded;
- There is a recruitment and retention crisis in the health service;
- Medical professionals and health care workers are ignored and
not listened to by the Government;
- Orphan drugs are not being funded correctly;
- Some areas of the state do not have a GP;
- National Rehabilitation Hospital beds remain closed, current
funding and resources for neuro-rehabilitation teams and
transitional services are not in place to enable people to return
home are insufficient.
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:
- Getting the Minister for Health to agree to trial the Sinn Féin
policy Comhliosta;
- Passing a Private Members Business Motion ensuring the new
National Maternity Hospital would be built on the St. Vincent’s
Hospital campus and remain within public ownership and have
legally guaranteed independence from all non-medical influence;
- Passing a Private Members Business Motion on automatically
providing medical cards for very sick children who are in receipt
of Domiciliary Care Allowance.
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
Motion 109
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)
Motion 110
This Ard Fheis:
- Commends Sinn Féin’s 2018 Alternative Budget which provided for a
€12million (5%) increase to spending on the Drugs Strategy in the 26
Counties for 2018;
- Responds to the call by previous Ard Fheiseanna for a review to
be conducted of the party’s policies on drugs, this having regard
to international experience and the views of the membership, by
confirming that such a review has now been completed;
- Recognises the harm caused by drugs and believes that recovery must
become a primary focus of the response to drugs in the years ahead
and that appropriate investment must follow this priority;
- Finds that the offence of possession for personal use should be
preserved but that legislation should be amended to provide the option
for a judge to order a health intervention or community-based referral
and no criminal record where there is strong evidence that the drug
possessed was genuinely for personal use;
- Reaffirms our belief that an interagency approach based on genuine
partnership is absolutely paramount to addressing the harms
caused by drugs, as is greater investment in health, education and
communities.
Ard Chomhairle
Motion 111
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:
- Identify the scale and nature of the drug problem in West Belfast;
- Report with recommendations to help tackle the scourge of
unfortunate and untimely deaths in our community.
Blackmountain Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 112
This Ard Fheis:
- Acknowledges and supports the work done by local drug & alcohol task
forces and the community based projects they support;
- Welcomes the commitment to harm reduction in the Irish
Government's drug strategy Reducing Harm-Supporting Recovery 2017-
2025;
- Calls on the Irish Government to support and strengthen the work of
the local drug & alcohol drug task forces by immediately reinstating
funding to at least 2008 levels.
Dublin South Central Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 113
This Ard Fheis calls for the decriminalisation of all drugs for personal use.
National Youth Committee
UCC Cumann
Motion 114
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:
- Informing people how to reduce their risk of developing dementia;
- Diagnosing dementia early;
- Supporting people to live well with the condition;
- Enabling dementia friendly communities;
- Monitoring and managing data.
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)
Motion 115
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)
Motion 116
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)
Motion 117
This Ard Fheis endorses Sinn Féin’s 2018 Alternative Budget mental health
priorities to:
- Provide an additional budgetary investment of €51.23m in mental
health services and care for 2018 and calls on the Irish Government to
increase staff levels in line with the A Vision for Change mental health
strategy recommendations;
- Move towards 24/7 crisis intervention services in all HSE Community
Healthcare Organisations (CHO) areas;
- Increase access to primary care counselling, prioritise addiction and
dual diagnosis, deliver additional Child and Adolescent Mental Health
(CAMHS) Teams and beds, and fund counselling and other mental
health services for people currently in Direct Provision.
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)
Motion 118
This Ard Fheis:
- Acknowledges that a significant number of men aged 15 to 34 years in
Ireland today are lost to suicide; alcohol is a factor in more than half
of all suicides and over one third of cases of self-harm and that the
State has the second highest rate of binge drinking in the world;
- Calls on the Irish Government to ensure there is no further delay in
progressing the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 through the Seanad
and Dáil, a complete ban on alcohol sponsorship of sporting events
and TV advertising of alcohol.
Gaughan/Stagg Cumann (Ballina)
Motion 119
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes the impact that suicide has on individuals, families and
communities;
- Acknowledges that death by suicide is a preventable death, as
identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO);
- Recognises the wide range of work carried out by the voluntary and
community sector as well as the statutory services in tackling this
issue, often in challenging circumstances;
- Commends the work carried out by former Health Minister Michelle
O’Neill in tackling stigma and ensuring parity of esteem for mental
health and physical health, as part of a wider effort to tackling suicide
and promoting proactive prevention;
- Calls for a fully resourced all-Ireland Suicide Prevention strategy.
North Belfast Comhairle Ceantair
Colin Comhairle Ceantair
Fermanagh Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 120
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)
Motion 121
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:
- This year marks the 30th anniversary since the closure of the North
Infirmary hospital;
- At that time, Sinn Féin pledged to the people of northside of Cork City/
County that we would advocate for a new hospital to be located on
the northside of Cork City/County;
- Such a hospital could seek to cater for currently under-served areas
as diverse as the northside of the city, Mitchelstown, Glanmire, and
Fermoy, amongst others;
- A northside location makes strategic sense given the current City/
County focus on this region for future housing development.
This Ard Fheis recognises that Sinn Féin is obliged to honour its pledge to the
people of Cork by:
- Advocating such a hospital is located to the Northside of Cork City, or
the rural hinterland reasonably beyond;
- Ensuring the matter is given priority and due regard during
formulation of any future programme for government.
Furthermore, in recognition of the general depreciation of services in Cork
over the past number of years, that this Ard Fheis would advocate that such a
facility would:
- Act as a regional response unit for the co-ordination of emergencies
under the Major Emergency Framework;
- Have a separate training research focus with regard 3rd level training.
Ahern/Crowley Cumann (North East Ward)
Motion 122
This Ard Fheis supports:
- The demand for the Health Social Care Boards in the North to bring
the provision of IVF treatment to three full cycles in accordance with
evidence based recommendations;
- Moves in the South to address more roundly the issue of fertility,
that whilst welcoming proposals for one cycle of IVF acknowledging it
doesn't go far enough and that access to IVF on the island of Ireland for
all couples should be 3 full cycles.
Derry City Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 123
This Ard Fheis notes with concern:
- The hurt and harm women and men have experienced through the use
of mesh in surgery to address incontinence, prolapse, and hernia;
- The life changing debilitation and pain experienced by people harmed
through mesh and that one person hurt by mesh is one too many.
This Ard Fheis calls for:
- An immediate moratorium on the use of mesh to address incontinence,
prolapse, and hernia;
- A comprehensive independent review of emerging evidence of the
serious risk the use of mesh poses;
- A comprehensive care pathway to ensure timely appraisal and
treatment of those experiencing side effects following mesh implant
operations.
Cúige na Sé Chontae
Motion 124
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to:
- Act urgently to guarantee early assessment and diagnosis of children
on the autistic spectrum;
- Provide funding for private professional medical consultation where
necessary;
- Ensure that no child has to wait more than six months for such an
appointment;
- Ensure that the education system from primary school through to third
level is equipped to cater for those who live with autism, to provide
financial and essential supports for the parents and families of autistic
children where necessary;
- Provide funded training for professionals in the early assessment and
diagnosis of children on the autistic spectrum.
Dwyer/Parnell Cumann (Arklow Rural)
Motion 125
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)
Motion 126
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:
- Under 6 GP service should not be an opt-in service. Many parents are
not aware that their GP’s do not provide the initiative until they need it;
- Registration of professionals such as radiographers and nurses
is taking far too long. It would be beneficial to have an automatic
recognition of qualifications between European and Irish colleges to
expedite the registration process;
- More multidisciplinary teams should be available in local health
centres to ensure that older and more vulnerable are getting a holistic
healthcare service and to ensure they are linking in with services;
- Mental health reforms and the provision of 24/7 services and supports.
Clarke/Smith/Doherty Cumann (Finglas)
Motion 127
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)
Motion 128
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)
Motion 129
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes that gambling is an increasing problem across the whole island
of Ireland, in particular amongst young people;
- Commends the work that local communities, the GAA and other
organisations are doing to tackle gambling and its underlying causes;
- Calls for:
- Recognition that gambling is a public health issue;
- More support services to be provided to address gambling and to
assist people with gambling problems;
- Sinn Féin to develop a comprehensive policy on gambling including
proposals for the regulation of advertising, promotion and
sponsorship by gambling businesses.
Clarke/Smith/Doherty Cumann (Finglas)
Burns/McKerr/Toman Cumann (Lurgan)
Markievicz/Ryan Cumann (Tallaght Central)
Motion 130
This Ard Fheis:
- Recognises that disability is a societal issue, affecting people of all
ages and their families, directly and indirectly and wants to see a
society in which all citizens, including those with disabilities, can
play a full and independent part in all aspects of life, relying, as
far as possible, on mainstream services for health, education and
employment but with the support of tailored disability services where
necessary;
- Commends the Sinn Féin Oireachtas team on the range of costed
measures provided for people with disabilities in the Sinn Féin
Alternative Budget for 2018;
- Condemns the current Irish Government’s failure, supported by
Fianna Fáil, to once again provide any appreciable improvement
in supports for people with disabilities in Budget 2018 and calls on
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health, Simon Harris to now
commit to putting those needs and rights front and centre in Budget
2019;
- Urges that the Independent Alliance Deputies, including Minister of
State with responsibility for People with Disabilities Finian McGrath,
secure a solemn commitment in writing from An Taoiseach and
Minister Harris that Budget 2019 will seek to address the real cost
of disability in the lives of those with physical and/or intellectual
challenges.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 26 Chontae
O'Hanlon/McMahon/Lynagh Cumann (Monaghan Town)
Motion 131
This Ard Fheis notes:
- That the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(2006) provides the framework to promote, protect and ensure the
rights of all people with disabilities and promotes equal rights in all
areas of life;
- That it is unacceptable that the Irish state has still not ratified this
important convention and is now the only EU state which has not
done so.
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
Motion 132
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)
Motion 133
This Ard Fheis:
- Acknowledges the Irish Association of Social Workers, Age Action, the
Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the School of Social Policy, Social
Work and Social Justice in UCD research (2016) which found that
the home care services system in the 26 counties is disorganised,
fragmented and underfunded with social workers estimating more
than half of the older people they work with could be at home instead
of in long-term residential care if the appropriate services were
available;
- Notes that this echoes previous Irish research studies, which show
that older people want to remain living at home for as long as
possible and to receive care there when it is needed;
- Commends Sinn Féin’s 2018 alternative budget proposals to provide
2.1 million additional home help hours and 2,485 extra home care
packages providing an €72.65 million additional investment in home
care services;
- Calls on the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Mental
Health and Older People to urgently address the shortfalls in funding
and resources that unnecessarily forces elderly people out of their
homes and into residential care.
Duffy/Downey Cumann (Dundalk East)
Motion 134
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)
Motion 135
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)
Motion 136
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:
- 79% of statements of special educational needs within the 6 Counties
were completed outside of 26 week statutory limit;
- The recent trend towards the reduction in the number of hours
allocated to children with special educational needs at nursery level.
This Ard Fheis commits to:
- Delivering SEN provision on the basis of need;
- Implementing measures to ensure assessments and statements are
completed quickly as possible and that the statutory time-frame for
statements is reduced to 20 weeks.
Limavady Comhairle Ceantair
Education, Childcare and Social Policy
Motion 137
This Ard Fheis:
- Recognises the importance of a properly resourced education sector
to both the society and the economy;
- Recognises that education was one of the sectors that suffered some
of the harshest cutbacks and levels of underinvestment during the
slash-and-burn budgets by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments in
recent years;
- Condemns the choices of the recent joint Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil budget
which prioritised tax cuts over real investment in public services;
- Welcomes the provisions in the recent Sinn Féin Alternative Budget
2018 to increase the quality and funding of the 26 County education
system at all levels including:
- Reducing the pupil-teacher in primary schools by 2 points;
- Increasing school capitation grants;
- Restoring school guidance councillors;
- Additional resource teachers and SNAs;
- Significant funding to tackle back to school costs;
- Increased funding to the School Transport Scheme;
- Reducing Third Level Fees in and abolishing PLC course fees;
- €100m additional capital investment in education.
- Calls on the Irish government to prioritise real investment in
education in subsequent budgets to ensure a world-class system to
the benefit of all citizens.
James Stephens Cumann (Kilkenny)
Motion 138
This Ard Fheis notes that:
- Wages in the Early Years sector are low with the average wage for the
profession significantly below living wage and does not reflect staff
qualifications with consequent recruitment and retention difficulties
which put additional pressure on an already overstretched sector;
- Hundreds of early years staff will be forced to sign onto social welfare for
the summer months due to 38 week work contracts;
- High quality early childhood education and care is beneficial to young
children at the foundation stage of their development and that provision
of high quality early education and care is dependent on quality
interactions between early years staff and the children they engage with.
This Ard Fheis therefore Calls on the Irish Government to:
- Carry out, as a matter of urgency, an independent early years’ service
cost and sustainability review;
- Increase State funding to European levels to ensure sustainable high
quality provision, professional pay scales and paid non-contact time;
- Commission the development of a State-wide agreed pay scale for
the early years workforce linked to the Occupational Role Profiles that
recognises qualifications, experience and length of service using the
living wage as a starting point and to ensure higher capitation rates
are passed on to staff through an agreed salary scale that reflects
qualifications;
- Immediately address the issue of extra non-contact hours which
have been added to providers' already extensive workload due to the
introduction of the ACS this year and ensure that both service providers
and staff are remunerated for this additional work in adequate time for
the additional work necessary for the preparation and implementation
of the Department's new scheme.
Meaney/Dunne Cumann (Ballybrack)
Motion 139
This Ard Fheis:
- Welcomes the publication of the Sinn Féin document Time to Make
Childcare Affordable;
- Notes that:
- Childcare costs in the State are twice the European average;
- Decades of Irish Government under-investment in the sector has
resulted in these soaring childcare costs;
- Many highly-skilled and qualified workers are lost from the labour
force every year due as they take time out of work to care for their
children due to the prohibitively high cost of childcare;
- Many childcare providers are operating on a break-even basis.
- Calls on the Irish Government to:
- Significantly increase the Universal Childcare Subsidy (UCS) from its
current rate in order to ease the burden on families;
- Increase sustainability funds for community childcare providers;
- Increase and expand investment in the early years sector year upon
year in order to reduce costs to parents and arrive at a situation
where accessible, high-quality and affordable childcare is available to
all who wish to avail of it.
Cole/Colley Cumann (Coolock)
Motion 140
This Ard Fheis notes that:
- The sedentary nature of Irish children and adolescents is compounded
by the fact that many schools have no indoor sports facilities;
- As the Irish school year runs through the winter, it is vital that children
have access to facilities that are not weather dependant.
This Ard Fheis therefore calls on the Irish Government to provide immediate
funding so that all schools, primary, secondary and special, have access to an on-
site indoor sports hall and believes that if the Irish Government is serious about
tackling obesity and its associated health problems it should immediately make
these funds available.
Carrick-On-Shannon Cumann
Motion 141
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:
- Despite the abolition of the 11 plus many schools continue to select
pupils on the basis of school transfer tests;
- School transfer tests continue to drive educational inequality and are
a barrier to parental choice.
This Ard Fheis welcomes the publication of the report Investigating Links in
Achievement and Deprivation (ILiAD) which concluded that:
- Attainment is enhanced when schools develop effective links with
local communities;
- Good quality teacher interaction with pupils significantly enhances the
potential for achievement;
- Transfer tests inhibit the attainment of young people in areas of
deprivation;
- Negative experience of transfer tests result in reduced confidence and
self-esteem;
- Transfer tests favour those young people whose parents can afford to
pay for tuition.
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
Motion 142
This Ard Fheis calls on the Irish Government to carry out a thorough review of
the CAO and leaving certificate system, having regard to:
- The strain imposed by the present system on the physical and mental
wellbeing and health of students;
- The need to ensure equality of access to third level education and, in
particular, to the most sought after courses and;
- The detrimental effect that the excessive emphasis on examination
results and points has on the educational environment in schools and
on learning outcomes for students.
Mick Murray Cumann (Clontarf)
Motion 143
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)
Motion 144
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
Motion 145
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)
Motion 146
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
Motion 147
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:
- When the pregnancy has not exceeded 12 weeks;
- When the continuance of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the
life, physical health or mental health of the pregnant woman, greater
than if the pregnancy were terminated;
- in the event of a fatal foetal abnormality.
In the event of this motion passing it would repeal all prior Ard Fheis motions
regarding the termination of pregnancy.
National Youth Committee
Motion 148
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)
Motion 149
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)
Motion 151
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)
Towards a New and United Ireland
Motion 152
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:
- Endorses the Sinn Féin discussion document Towards a United Ireland,
as providing constructive and imaginative ideas and in contributing to
the debate of the achievement of a united Ireland;
- Calls on all those political parties which claim to support a united
Ireland, to bring forward their own ideas and proposals on how best
to move this objective forward;
- Calls on the Oireachtas to:
- Introduce automatic Dáil membership for MPs from the North of
Ireland and, pending this, to immediately introduce speaking and
consultative rights for Northern MPs and Assembly members in
the Dáil and Seanad.
- Establish a national forum to bring together all parties and key
sectors representative of civic society on the island to consult
together on the constitutional and political future of the island,
including the issue of Irish unity and national reconciliation.
- Calls on the Irish Government to:
- Encourage and lead an informed, reasoned and respectful public
dialogue on the issue of Irish unity;
- Prepare a realistic plan for Irish reunification, including the
establishment of an Oireachtas all-party group to bring forward a
Green Paper for Irish reunification;
- Initiate a referendum on Presidential voting rights for citizens in
the North of Ireland and the Irish diaspora;
- Develop an all-island National Health Service and all-island public
services through a ‘United Ireland Investment and Prosperity Plan’.
Ard Chomhairle
Motion 153
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
Motion 154
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:
- The right to employment free from sectarian discrimination,
intimidation or attack;
- The right to housing and to live in your home free from sectarian
attack, intimidation or other discrimination;
- The right to free association, recreation and to socialise at places of
choice free from sectarian attack, intimidation or other discrimination;
- The right to practice religious faith and worship free from sectarian
attack, intimidation or other discrimination;
- The duty to report or challenge sectarian speech, attack, intimidation
or other discrimination when witnessed or heard.
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
Motion 155
This Ard Fheis notes that:
- Recent events in south and east Belfast have displayed most vividly
that sectarianism remains a cancer in some elements of Irish society;
- The use of flags to intimidate and to create an atmosphere where
sectarian intimidation becomes inevitable;
- Sectarianism is the antithesis of republicanism.
As with all other forms of hate or discrimination, unreservedly condemns the
sectarian intimidation of catholic families from their homes in south and east
Belfast and commits Sinn Féin activists to proactively challenge sectarianism
and sectarian attitudes regardless of their source and commends the
submissions to and participation in the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture
and Tradition by residents and activists to in the North.
South and East Belfast Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 156
This Ard Fheis:
- Recognises that there is a significant gap in dealing with the past in
our society and a disappointing approach by governments in light of
UNSCR 1325;
- Notes that UNSCR 1325 which was passed in the year 2000 called for
greater participation and integration of women’s unique perspectives
in conflict prevention, peace-building, and reconstruction. It also
called for the protection of women’s and girl’s rights during conflicts,
and the prevention of and attention to gender based violence;
- Is disappointed in the lack of responsibility by the British government
to carry out their obligations to women on these islands as a result of
their definition of the 30 years of conflict;
- Recognises that without a gender specific approach we cannot identify
experiences or support recovery;
- Fully supports the participation of women in all stages of the post
conflict process;
- Calls for the immediate implementation of United Nations Security
Council Resolution 1325.
Glenavy Cumann
Motion 157
This Ard Fheis recognises:
- The importance of a Bill of Rights which is a core part of the Good
Friday Agreement, containing rights supplementary to European
Convention on Human Rights and reflecting the particular
circumstances of the north of Ireland;
- The central role a Bill of Rights would play in safeguarding peace,
equality and human rights within the context of Brexit and the
proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act by the British Tory
Government;
- The concerns and recommendations in the most UN reports on the
repeal of the Human rights Act.
This Ard Fheis supports a Bill of Rights for the north of Ireland and all-Ireland
Charter of Rights.
Grúpa Parlaiminteach na 6 Chontae
Motion 158
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)
Motion 159
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;
- Registered their ‘deep concerns’ in relation to the HIU (Historical
Investigations Unit) and other legacy mechanisms, like the ICIR
(Independent Commission on Information Retrieval) and the OHA
(Oral History Archive), agreed at the Stormont House talks in
December 2014, which have still not been established;
- Strongly call on the British Government ‘as a matter of urgency’
to take all necessary measures to ensure that the legacy inquest
system is properly resourced in accordance with the Lord Chief
Justice’s proposals and that full cooperation is forth coming from
both the PSNI and the MoD to facilitate the conclusion of effective
investigations;
- Decided to review the progress made on these issues at the next
meeting of the committee in June 2018, at the latest.
In conclusion this Ard Fheis demands that the British Government must now
honour their international obligations and fully comply with the decision of
the Committee of Ministers. In addition, they must also adequately resource
the Police Ombudsman’s Office to allow them to complete outstanding legacy
investigations.
Fermanagh Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 160
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
Motion 161
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:
- Language Rights;
- Gaeltacht areas;
- Education;
- Public Sector Reform;
- Promoting the Irish language in the Media;
- The creation of the widest opportunity to learn and use the Irish
Language.
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
Motion 162
This Ard Fheis:
- Acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the first Civil Rights march
which took place in August 1968 from Coalisland to Dungannon when
over 2000 people marched for equality and civil rights for Nationalists
in the 6 counties;
- Notes that much has changed in the North as a result of the first
civil rights march but that there is still some way to go to deliver
equality to all and we must continue to strive to deliver this through
all avenues open to us including activism, elected institutions and the
judicial system.
Coalisland/Clonoe Martyrs Cumann
Motion 163
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
Motion 164
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes that we are approaching the centenary of the 1918 election and
the First Dáil;
- Demands that Dáil speaking and voting rights for the North’s MPs be
implemented without further delay;
- Specifically proposes that elected representatives from the North
would be invited to participate in a sitting of the Dáil on the 21st
January 1919, to mark the centenary of the first sitting of the First Dáil;
- Proposes that, should the Oireachtas fail the legislate for speaking
and voting rights for Northern MPs, Sinn Féin should consider
organising a symbolic peoples election standing a candidate in each of
Six County constituencies where future Dáil elections would be held.
South Down Comhairle Ceantair
Seamus Wrynn Cumann (Ballinamore)
Motion 165
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)
Motion 166
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)
Motion 167
This Ard Fheis:
- Notes the recent announcement by An Taoiseach that a referendum
will be held on amending the constitution to allow Irish citizens
resident in the North and amongst the diaspora to vote in Presidential
elections;
- Calls on Sinn Féin to step up the campaign for this referendum to be
held next year and calls on the people of the South to support this
necessary change in the constitution by extending the vote to their
fellow citizens;
- Commends the leadership of both Gerry Adams TD and Seanadóir
Niall Ó Donnghaile for putting this matter front and centre of the
political agenda in both houses of the Oireachtas and the Seanad.
South and East Belfast Comhairle Ceantair
Motion 168
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
Motion 169
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.
Motion 170
This Ard Fheis believes that the office of President is not relevant in modern
Ireland.
Cumann Mháirtín Uí Chadhain (South Connemara)
Motion 171
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)