14th September 2002

---

Sinn Fein TDs and MLAs meet in Belfast to advance all-Ireland agenda

Sinn Fein Chairperson and Foyle MLA Mitchel McLaughlin today announced details of a joint meeting of the party's TDs and MLAs which will take place in Stormont on Tuesday. He said ``it is part of a broader initiative inside and outside the party to advance the case for Irish Unity.''

Mr. McLaughlin said:

``Sinn Fein is the only all-Ireland party. We are the only party with a strategy and policies for achieving Irish unity and independence. We are the only party that people can vote for whether they live in Derry, Kerry, Wexford or Antrim.

``Tuesday's inaugural meeting of the party's TDs and MLAs is a crucial part of our all-Ireland political agenda. It is also part of a broader initiative inside and outside the party to advance the case for Irish Unity. Over the next three months the party will be holding an all-Ireland elected representatives conference and will be working with others to bring forward a Green Paper on Irish Unity in Leinster House, as part of our commitment to build an Alliance for Irish Unity.

``I believe that the Good Friday Agreement presents us with a real opportunity to redress the mistakes of the past together and build a new democracy based on the needs and requirements of all the people of Ireland.

``I also believe that we are well on our way to bringing about the reunification of Ireland. That being the case it is incumbent on all of us to prepare for the eventuality of Irish Unity. It is important that we begin to discuss what this means for all of us on the island and for the Irish and British governments to have in place plans and mechanisms to ensure the smooth transfer of sovereignty when the time arrives.''

---

Sinn Fein Press Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Tel: +353-1-8726100 and +353-1-8726839   ·   Fax +353-1-8733074
E-mail: sinnfein@irlnet.com   ·   Website: http://www.sinnfein.org

---

Sinn Fein   ·   Sinn Fein Documents

---