Towards a Lasting Peace
Bunreacht & Rialacha/Constitution & Rules
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- Support the motion Oppose the motion
That under no circumstances should Sinn Fein take part in
any new British institution such as an Assembly in the six
counties.
Cumann McElchar/McCaffrey.
Co. Dhún na nGall
(This was Motion 99 in previous Clár)
Ard Chomhairle Emergency Motion (a)
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
This Ard Fheis agrees to amend the Sinn Fein Constitution
to enable successful Sinn Fein candidates to participate in
elected institutions on the island of Ireland.
Therefore, sections 1b, 1f, 5 and 6 of Sinn Fein's Constitution
& Rules as amended will now read as follows;
Sinn Fein Constitution and Rules. (Sections 1b, 1f,5 and 6) as
amended.
1. Membership.
(b) No person who is a member of any political party organisation
or who approves of or supports the candidature of persons who, if
elected, intend taking part in the proceedings of the Westminster
parliament, or who approves of or supports the candidature of
persons who sign any form or give any kind of written or verbal
undertaking of intention to take their seats in this institution,
shall be admitted to membership or allowed to retain membership.
(f) No member of the British armed forces shall be eligible for
membership.
No person who has taken any oath of allegiance to the Westminster
parliament shall be eligible for membership so long as he/she
retains the office or position involving such oaths or until
he/she repudiates the oath of declaration in writing to a cumann.
5. Sinn Fein candidates in Westminster Parliamentary elections
shall, on selection and before nomination, publicly and solemnly
pledge themselves, as follows:
``I ............................ freely and solemnly declare:
``a That, if elected, I will not sit in, nor take part in, the
proceedings of the Westminster Parliament.
``b That, pending the establishment of the parliament of the Irish
Republic, in all matters pertaining to the duties and functions
of an elected representative I will be guided by and hold myself
amenable to all directions and instructions issued to me by the
Ard Chomhairle of Sinn Fein.
``c That, pending the establishment of the parliament of the
Irish Republic, I will, at any time, if called upon to do so by a
majority of the members of the Ard Chomhairle of Sinn Fein,
resign my seat as an elected representative of the constituency
of ...................................... .
``dThat I take this pledge voluntarily, of my own free will''.
That Sinn Fein candidates will take pledges 5b, 5c and 5d.
6 The Ard Chomhairle must ratify all candidates selected to
contest elections.... .
Ard Chomhairle
Emergency Motion
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
This cumann proposes the changing of the Sinn Fein
constitution to allow elected Sinn Fein representatives to take
their seats in the proposed new assembly (* as amended sections
1b, 1f, 5 & 6 in Ard Chomhairle - Bunreacht & Rialacha reads).
We believe the change in the Sinn Fein constitution to be
necessary at this stage in our struggle, where there is at last
the opportunity to aggressively pursue and achieve equality of
treatment for our people.
The legal requirement of `service' within the assembly, to elect
ministers to the north/south ministerial council weighs heavily
also in our proposal for change, as we cannot, by default, allow
others to represent our people in the development of
co-operation, action and consultation within the island of
Ireland.
Portlaoise Martyrs Sinn Fein Cumann
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
That all salaries paid to successful Sf candidates be passed
directly to the National Treasurers to assist the development of
the party.
Ard Chomhairle
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
This Ard Fheis upholds the right of the Irish people in
the Six Counties to play a full and active part in the life of
the Irish nation. We oppose any attempts to remove or adjust
Articles 2 and 3 on the basis that their deletion would diminish
the rights of nationalists in the six counties and enshrine the
Unionist veto in an amended constitution.
Belfast Comhairle Limistéar
(This was Motion 102 in previous Clár)
Emergency Motion
Ard Chomhairle Emergency Motion (b)
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
This Ard Fheis endorses the recommendations of the Ard
Chomhairle on the two seperate referendums to be held on
22/5/1998.
Sinn Fein does not believe that the referendums constitute the
exercise of national self determination. Nevertheless they are a
significant development which we come to in a positive way.
There are elements in both referendums that present difficulties
for some republicans and nationalists. Sinn Fein has made it
clear that it is not opposed to changes in the Irish Constitution
but there is real and justified concern at the changes to
Articles 2 & 3 of the Irish Constitution. Sinn Fein opposes
changes that would dilute the definition of the territory of the
nation, weaken the imperative to unity or dilute the citizenship
rights in the north and incorporate the `consent' clause. Sinn
Fein does not accept the legitimacy of the six county statelet.
It is important therefore that the proposed changes be examined
in the overall context of the Good Friday document and in the
light of implications for the future.
However we must not ignore the amendment to Article 29, which
inserts the constitutional provision for the establishment of the
North/South bodies, which allows for the actuality of right to
jurisdiction in the North. This is, for the first time, a
practical and constitutional assertion of the Irish government's
right to exercise authority throughout the island of Ireland. The
effective operation of a North/South Council with policy making
and implementation powers and structures represents effectively
the exercise of joint authority in the areas for which the
North/South Council has responsibility.
We should also note that what is proposed in the change to
Article 2 will confirm a constitutional right to Irish
citizenship for the people in the Six-Counties. Creating a
momentum towards democracy places a huge responsibility upon the
Irish Government that must represent the national interest in the
course of seeking Irish Unity.
As is already clear, the Good Friday document is not a political
settlement. As outlined above, Sinn Fein comes to this process
in a positive and constructive mode in order to move our struggle
into a new and potentially more productive phase and also to
bring the peace process as quickly as possible to a democratic
peace settlement. We have made it clear that we reject a
Unionist veto and that we seek an end to Partition and British
rule in our country. In the pursuit of Irish Unity our party
leadership is united in exploring the potential of elements of
the Good Friday paper.
Our struggle goes on. While we understand and appreciate the
difficulty that the following recommendation poses for some
republicans who may wish to vote otherwise, the Ard Chomhairle in
the context of our legitimate reservations calls for a Yes vote
in the referendums North and South.
Ard Chomhairle
Emergency Motion
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
That Sinn Fein will call for a No vote on the Referendums
in the six counties and twenty-six counties on the Good Friday
Agreement.
Cork Comhairle Ceantair, Corcaigh
Emergency Motion
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
That Sinn Fein will call for a No vote on the Referendum
in the twenty-six counties because of the proposed changes to
Articles 2 & 3.
Cork Comhairle Ceantair, Corcaigh
- Support the motion Oppose the motion
