sinn fein - Socialist Action

Sinn Fein’s election result realigns Irish politics – the recent vote for the party was unprecedented

12th June 2014 Socialist Action 0

The following article by Sinn Féin Chairperson Declan Kearney, explaining the policies underlying the party’s electoral advance, was originally published by the Belfast Telegraph.

An opinion poll in the Sunday Independent on June 8 suggested Sinn Féin support had increased to 26% since the European and council elections.

Sinn Féin’s stunning advance

28th May 2014 Socialist Action 0

By Frances Davis

In last week’s elections Sinn Féin stood on a strong anti-austerity programme, both north and south, with a clear, left alternative economic policy coupled with a strong advocacy of the peace process and for Irish reunification. Its vote is the strongest for the party since 1918.

Gerry Adams arrest – an attack on the peace process

9th May 2014 Socialist Action 0

By Frances Davis

The recent arrest and imprisonment of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, who was subsequently released without charge, was a clear political intervention, designed to undermine the peace process and to reverse the rise in support across Ireland for Sinn Fein.

Solidarity with Gerry Adams

3rd May 2014 Socialist Action 0

The arrest and detention of Gerry Adams three weeks before the Local Government and EU elections is a deliberate political intervention into those elections by those in the PSNI hostile to the peace process and hoping to damage Sinn Féin’s rising support across the whole the Ireland.

Sinn Féin’s statements since Gerry Adams’ arrest (which can be found here) are reproduced below:

Ireland – unionists must not be allowed to block Haass proposals

6th February 2014 Socialist Action 0

By Frances Davis

The current failure to move forward on proposals which emerged from the ‘Haass’ talks in relation to the north of Ireland, as Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy recently pointed out, `go to the heart of the issues and difficulties involved in making political change and progress’.

The proposals which emerged from all-party talks chaired by US diplomats Richard Haass and Megan O’Sullivan, put forward reasonable and modest ways of dealing with the problematic issues of the past, contentious parades, the flying of flags and use of emblems. Resolving these issues is crucial to maintaining and progressing the Good Friday Agreement’s core principle of equality.

Mandela tributes show links between the national liberation struggles in South Africa and Ireland

18th December 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Frances Davis

One of the most inspiring moments in the days of tribute following the death of Nelson Mandela has been the way in which it has highlighted the connections between the leaderships of national liberation struggles spanning continents – from South African to Cuba and to Ireland. The critical role of the Cuban leadership and people in helping defeat apartheid was given significant prominence in South Africa at the memorial service with the speech and presence of President Raul Castro.

In addition, and of particular note for the left here, was the prominence given to the connection between the Sinn Fein leadership and the ANC, where decades-long links with the struggle against apartheid and Irish republicans came to the fore.