A Strong Mandate
`A Growing Force'
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
This Ard Fheis congratulates all the Sinn Fein candidates
who stood in elections since our last conference. Their
outstanding achievment has sent a clear message around the world
that the days of British rule in Ireland are numbered.
Markievcicz Cumann Tamhlacht
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
This Ard Fheis congratulates our two candidates who stood
in the recent by-elections in Dublin North and Limerick East.
Mairéad Farrell Cumann, Baile Atha Cliath
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
That this Ard Fhéis notes that the 26 County government has
cancelled Council elections until June 1999, that this Cumann
believes that this is an apparent attempt to allow parties such
as the PDs time to rebuild support after their disastrous results
in the last general election and at the expense of Sinn Fein
whose vote has shown a substantial increase in recent times due
to hard work of its representatives, members and supporters.
Logue Marley Cumann Crumlin
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
That this Ard Fheis deplores the decision of the coalition
government to postpone local elections until June 1999.
Noble Six/Coen/MacManus Cumann Sligo
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
That this Ard Fheis calls on the Dublin government to hold
a new referendum on cabinet confidentiality.
Noble Six/Coen/MacManus Cumann Sligo
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
That this Ard Fheis calls on the government to introduce
legislation to ensure all future elections and referenda are held
at weekends in order to facilitate students and those working
away from home.
Noble Six/Coen/MacManus Cumann Sligo
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
That this Ard Fheis views the Seanad as an elitist
undemocratic body which should be abolished immediately.
Noble Six/Coen/MacManus Cumann Sligo
Emergency Amendment to Motion 7
That this Ård Fheis views the Seanad as presently constituted as
an elitist, undemocratic body. Its composition is
unrepresentative, its functions are minimal and totally out of
proportion to its cost. Public debate on the Seanad was
recommended by the Constitution Review Group in April 1997 but
this has not been initiated by either the previous or the present
government. It should be commenced now. If it is decided that a
second house should be retained then it must be democratically
elected by universal sufferage and it must provide alternative
representation to those excluded by the party-dominated system.
Comhairle Cheantair Mhuineacháin
A Strong Mandate
Sinn Fein addressed the new British government with its strongest
electoral mandate in decades in the six counties. The increase
in our vote and the election of two Sinn Fein MPs in Mid-Ulster
and West Belfast were the principal features of the Westminster
election in the six counties. More than that, it demonstrated
the renewed confidence and strength of the nationalist
electorate.
The determination shown at our Ard Fheis in Monaghan in April
1997 that major advances in the Westminster election would be
followed by a breakthrough in the general election in the 26
counties, was borne out when in June we secured the election,
with one of the largest mandates in the country, of the first
participating Sinn Fein TD in Leinster House. This election saw
a major increase in the Sinn Fein vote in all constituencies
where we contested. This pattern was repeated in the
by-elections in Limerick East and Dublin North in March 1998.
The momentum was maintained in a significant victory in the
Mid-Tyrone by-election in January 1998.
The third test of our electoral machine came with the local
government elections in the six counties. Once again the
confidence of nationalist communities was manifested in increased
Sinn Fein representation.
The Sinn Fein election successes of 1997 were the results, not of
a passing mood among voters, but of years of work in
representing our electorate, building our party, and increasing
the efficiency of our activists and of our structures. These
also will be the foundation for future advances.
Our electoral priorities in the year ahead will be increasing our
representation in any poll that may result from negotiations,
contesting by-elections as they arsie, and preparation for the
local government elections in the 26 Counties and EU elections in
1999.
This election will be one of the most significant we will ever
have contested in the 26 Counties.
(Ard Chomhairle Political Report)
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
A Growing Force
Sinn Fein is the fastest growing political force in Ireland.
Sinn Fein is the largest political party in the six counties.
In the 26 counties real progress has been made in building our
party but very much more remains to be achieved. We must develop
our politics and our organisation in the context of increased
disillusionment among the electorate with the failure of the
larger parties to deliver real change. The political spectrum
has moved to the right and we have had a succession of coalition
governments with almost identical social and economic policies.
While the success of the economy in the 26 counties is praised
the `Celtic Tiger' fails the equality test. This was
demonstrated in the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats budget
which squandered a unique opportunity to redress the economic
imbalance and to favour the disadvantaged. Instead the wealthy
were rewarded and the pverty gap widened once again.
Sinn Fein throughout the 32 counties in the year ahead sets
itself the goal of presenting more effectively our electorate on
both the national issue and social and economic issues. We have
undertaken comprehensive policy development and extensive
reorganisation in order to fulfill our role. The commitment of
all our membership is needed for that process to be successful.
The potential of Sinn Fein to grow and to provide to all the
Irish people a real political alternative is enormous. Growing
political strength for Sinn Fein will provide the dynamic for
national progress, lasting peace and social and economic
equality.
(Ard Chomhairle Political Report)
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
