Gerry Adams speech at the National Hunger Strike Commemoration 2009
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP MLA speaking at the National
Hunger Strike Commemoration in Galbally, Co. Tyrone today said that
Sinn Féin are not in the business of electoral politics for the sake of
it but to bring about real change for the better in the lives of
citizens.
Speaking about activism Mr Adams added:
“Activism
for Irish republicans’ means being firmly rooted and active in our
local community; . . . and republican in our politics and motivation.
“.
. . our objectives are about a better Ireland, a reunited Ireland, a
new inclusive society – and a new national Republic based on equality,
freedom and justice.”
In a strong attack on the Irish government Mr Adams said:
“The
Irish government . . . is a bad government, taking bad decisions, in
the interests of its money lender friends in the banks and among the
developers.
“The decisions that have been taken so far and the
decisions likely to emerge out of the McCarthy report and in the budget
later this year, amount to an attack on the most vulnerable and
disadvantaged in society.
“Instead of taxing the wealthy the
Irish government is slashing public services and jobs and beating up on
the unemployed, the elderly, the children and the sick.”
Mr Adams said:
“The
republican struggle was not and is not about bums on seats in the
Executive or Parliament Buildings or Leinster House or the EU or any
other forum just for the sake of it!
“Our representatives know
this. They are about delivering. They are about using the political
strength we have vested in them to deliver the rights and entitlements
of citizens and to achieve our republican objectives.
“We are
not in the business of electoral politics for the sake of it but to use
the political mandate we receive to bring about real change for the
better in the lives of citizens.
“Activism for Irish republicans
means being firmly rooted and active in our local community; relevant
in the work that we do; and republican in our politics and motivation.
“Republican politics are about the national and the social: the national and the local.
“In
simple terms our objectives are about a better Ireland, a reunited
Ireland, a new inclusive society – and a new national Republic based on
equality, freedom and justice.
“There are a number of prongs to our activism and to our strategy.
“One is about bedding down the peace process.
“This
means completing the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement; on
the transfer of powers on policing and justice; on a Bill of Rights and
on Acht na Gaeilge.
“It also means tackling disadvantage and poverty and injustice and delivering effective government.
“And
it’s also about reaching out to and engaging with unionism at all
levels; community, church, political, the orange order, the working
class and middle class.
“We who want a United Ireland must be prepared to persuade those who don’t of the merits of our position.
“While all this is a huge challenge in many ways the work we do in the South is just as difficult.
“Since
1927 the politics of the southern state has been dominated by the two
big conservative parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
“The
reality is that it is only in recent years that Sinn Féin has been able
to seriously take on the task of building a long term political
strategy in the south.
“It is a slow process but Republicans are
about changing political conditions so that citizens are empowered to
make their lives better, to reclaim their rights.
“The Irish government purports to be republican. There is nothing republican about its policies.
“It is not about equality or citizens rights.
“It
is a bad government, taking bad decisions, in the interests of its
money lender friends in the banks and among the developers.
“The
decisions that have been taken so far and the decisions likely to
emerge out of the McCarthy report and in the budget later this year,
amount to an attack on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society.
“Instead
of taxing the wealthy the Irish government is slashing public services
and jobs and beating up on the unemployed, the elderly, the children
and the sick.
“There is an urgent need to build opposition to the coalition government, and to the conservative forces in the state.
“They cannot be allowed to destroy the social fabric of Irish society.
“Our
responsibility is to make republicanism relevant to our time by
bringing forward commonsense and practical solutions to the chaos the
conservative parties have caused.
“What is needed is a new
politics delivering and implementing new policies that protect jobs,
create new jobs, invest in public services and remove the threat of
homelessness from tens of thousands of families.
“There are lots
of potential allies out there. The prison protests in Armagh and the H
Blocks brought together many people who disagreed on other issues.
“The hungerstrikes became a catalyst for a huge mass movement.
“In
dire economic times, not dissimilar to today, prison candidates
including Martin Hurson, received substantial votes and two prisoners
were elected TDs.
“So while building Sinn Féin, we also have to help build an alliance for change.
“We
have to come together with others to forge a stronger, united
progressive and democratic movement for our country - one that aims to
meet the needs of all citizens.
“Just as we did in that long hard summer of 1981.
“I believe that this can be done.
“The first hurdle we will face will be the re-run of the Lisbon Treaty.
“This was a bad treaty when it was first put to the electorate and it is still a bad treaty, negotiated by a bad government.
“Think about it: Would you buy a second hand treaty from this government?” ENDS