British rule has always been resisted

by actually Sat Jan 16, 2010 07:50

motions for most recent rsf ard fheis

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC

Delegates to the 105th Ard-Fheis of Sinn Féin have adopted the following resolutions:

68. Sinn Féin extends greetings and solidarity to the Dublin port workers and all workers engaged in defence of the rights secured over the past 100 years of trade union struggle. We recognise that a war is being waged on the working people of Ireland and we pledge to place ourselves in the vanguard of that struggle.

Ard Chomhairle

69. That this Ard-Fheis condemns the bankers, bosses, developers, speculators and political establishment whose actions now result in the taxing of future generation to pay for their excesses.

Ard Chomhairle

(As amended)

70. That this Ard-Fheis asserts that the land of Ireland belongs to the people of Ireland and not to individual capitalists.

Dáithí Ó Conaill Cumann, Monaghan

71. That this Ard-Fheis pledges its support to the ongoing struggle of workers to defend their right to work, organise in the workplace and secure a living wage to ensure a full and productive life for them and their families.

Kilcullen Cumann, Co Kildare

72. That this Ard-Fheis supports the striking trade unionists including the dockers, Thomas Cook workers and Coca Cola workers.

Comhairle Ceantair Átha Cliath

Cumann Wolfe Tone, Tallaght, Dublin

73. That this Ard-Fheis condemns the 26-County Administration’s bailout of the banking system at the expense of working people and further calls for the complete nationalisation of the banking system. Let those who made huge profits out of the Celtic Tiger pay for the crisis they ‘developed’.

Joe Conway Cumann, Newry, Co Down

74. That RSF condemn the bailout of the financial institutions by the 26-County

administration and their failure to pursue them through the proper legal channels.

Comhairle Ceantair Átha Cliath

76. That all Cumainn and Comhairlí Ceantair plan and coordinate activities in support of the unemployed, the trade unions and general public against the recent Bord Snip and taxation commission.

Máire Drumm Cumann, Clondalkin, Dublin

75. That this Ard-Fheis condemn the cuts in social welfare, health and education by the Free State Administration.

Cumann Wolfe Tone, Tallaght, Dublin

78. That this Ard-Fheis strongly condemns the difficulty of young people in rural Ireland in obtaining planning permission in their local area or on their parents’ land.

Derrymore Cumann, Tralee, Co Kerry

79. That this Ard Fheis supports the development of our sheep’s wool industry, the wool to be used for insulation in homes through the 32 Counties.

Derrymore Cumann, Tralee

80. That this Ard-Fheis reaffirms our support for the campaign against the Shell Corrib gas pipeline.

McNeela/Gaughan/Stagg Cumann, Co Mayo

81. That this Ard-Fheis rejects the payments of taxpayers’ money to the Orange Order for refurbishment of Orange halls in the 26 Counties.

Niall Fagan/Thomas Allen Cumann, Meath

82. That this Ard-Fheis opposes the erection of pylons throughout Meath, Cavan, Monaghan and Tyrone by Eirgrid.

Niall Fagan/Thomas Allen Cumann, Meath

Comhairle Laighean

83. That this Ard-Fheis condemn the unnecessary delay, caused by State incompetence in obtaining benefits to people which they are entitled to.

Comhairle Ceantair Átha Cliath

84. That RSF highlight the squandering of public monies in both Stormont and Leinster House by politicians and senior officials and also by directors of State Boards.

Comhairle Ceantair Átha Cliath

85. That this Ard-Fheis calls for all college fees to be abolished.

Pax Whelan/Thomas McElwee Cumann, Waterford

86. That this Ard-Fheis actively opposes all shades of discrimination of minority groups, ie the travelling community, foreign nationals and Irish-language speakers.

Joe Conway Cumann, Newry, Co Down

(As amended by Comhairle Laighean)

87. That this Ard-Fheis condemns the bankers and speculators who are being bailed out by NAMA at the cost of future generations.

Comhairle na Mumhan

88. That this Ard-Fheis condemns all employers who exploit their workers.

Comhairle na Mumhan

(As amended by An Ard-Chomhairle)

89. That this Ard-Fheis calls on the incoming Ard Chomhairle to wholeheartedly defend the rights of workers and condemn the use of cheap labour.

Smith O’Brien/Colbert Cumann, Co Limerick

(As amended by An Ard-Chomhairle and Comhairle Uladh)

90. That this Ard-Fheis calls on all Cumainn to take a stronger stand on local anti-social behaviour and be at the forefront in defence of local communities.

Smith O’Brien/Colbert Cumann, Co Limerick

by Pat - The forgotten dead Fri Jan 15, 2010 17:50

I don’t support RSF but understand why they commemorate the dead. This practice of commemorating the dead is widespread through out the globe. It is not unique to RSF. Everyone does it, by everyone I’m talking about democratically elected governments and the people who elected them. The list of people who commemorate the dead is endless. The Irish Government commemorates 1916. Fianna Fail still visit the grave of Wolftone. The British do it on Poppy Day, as do most Europeans. The Yanks are fanatical for commemorating the dead. They are even trying to make Poppy more appealing in the 26 counties as they try to convince us that WW1 was a fight for small nations (excluding Ireland). Why does Cecil R has a bee in his bonnet over RSF commemorating the dead ? Cecil, I think your just nit picking, such silly comments from you are laughable.

by Cecil R Wed Jan 13, 2010 21:01

There is a heavy, almost exclusive, stress on death in the RSF mentality as revealed here by themselves.

They go to cemeteries to make their political declarations and commemorations.

New political thinking or even an engagement with the present circumstances are ruled out as it is the wishes of the dead heroes that count. Or what RSF controversially discerns to be the wishes of the dead.

Nothing is offered by them for the future except a return to dead bodies on the roadsides and in the streets. The fact that the (living) Irish people don’t want this means nothing to them.

Suggestion: Leave the dead alone. Stop usurping them for your cause. Engage with the concerns of real people and not cemeteries. And let the living live – Ireland does not need more dead bodies for reasons of politics. There have been more than enough killings already.

More death is not what is required.

by Lewie Wed Jan 13, 2010 19:23

Someone should remind Adams and the rest of his clan where they came from.
Too many so called Republicans have sold out or being bought off (Hello Gerry! Hello Marty!) years ago by the occupying government.
Thank god theres still some of us left who remember the past and will not compromise our future by giving into or colluding with an unwelcome foreign power!

by new supporter Tue Jan 12, 2010 08:59

i got the des daltons speech after signing up on the rsf email newslist and i must say that this outlines exactly what republicanism faces today ...he post above is just an exceprt and i think that it should be able for the general public to be able to read it so here it is ...

.....

Speaking at Republican Sinn Féin’s annual Fearghal Ó h-Anluain commemoration on Sunday January 10 at Lathlurcan cemetery Monaghan, the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton said:

“Throughout Irish revolutionary history in each phase of the freedom struggle the sacrifice of individual Irish patriots have come to personify the fight for Irish freedom. Following their deaths Seán Sabhat and Fearghal Ó h-Anluain names would be forever more linked together. They represented in the eyes of people both at home and abroad the historic demand of the Irish people for national independence.

“ ‘Thoughtful, well read, deeply convinced and dedicated Irish Republicans’, was how Ruairí Ó Brádaigh described both men on the 50th anniversary of their deaths in 2007.

“Fearghal Ó hAnluain came from a staunchly Republican family imbued with a passionate love for his language – like Seán Sabhat he was a fluent Irish speaker - his games and his culture. A footballer of note he represented Monaghan at minor, junior and senior level.

“Fearghal Ó hAnluain took his part as a member of the Pearse Column in the attack on Brookborough RUC barracks on the evening of January 1 1957. His presence in Brookborough on that fateful evening was for him the natural and practical expression of his deeply held Irish Republicanism. Like Pearse he believed that in the face of continued British rule in Ireland ‘the only honourable attitude for Irishmen and Irishwomen is an attitude of revolt.’

“The sacrifice of Sabhat and Ó hAnluain was acknowledged within months when four Republican Sinn Féin TDs were elected to an All-Ireland parliament –including Fearghal’s brother Éineachán. Songs and ballads eulogised them and GAA teams were named in their honour .

“While the flame of Irish nationality burns their names will live on in the hearts of the people.

“Sabhat and Ó hAnluain died so that future generations would live in a Free Ireland.

“British rule in Ireland has always been met with resistance by a section of the Irish people. The attacks in recent days and weeks on British Crown forces testify to this iron law of Irish history. There are those who would wish it otherwise but that is the reality, which must be faced if a lasting settlement is to be secured for all of the Irish people.

“Irish history is a cycle of coercion - mixed with pacification - and resistance. It is time to break that cycle and for that to happen the British Government must accept that the only constructive role they have to play in our country is their leaving of it.

“A public declaration of intent by the British Government to withdraw from Ireland would create the dynamic within which all of the Irish people could negotiate the basis for a New Ireland.

“We believe that the EIRE NUA proposals can provide the framework for the pluralist, non-sectarian and Democratic Socialist Republic set out in the 1916 proclamation. Such a Republic stands in stark contrast to the present discredited, sectarian scandal and crisis ridden Stormont and Leinster House regimes.

“In Lurgan, Ardoyne and other areas of the Six Counties young people have taken on the forces of British occupation. They have been dismissed as ‘A-political and anti-social by Westminster, Stormont and Leinster House.

“Again those who have signed up to holding Ireland for the British Crown are not prepared to face up to the reality confronting them.

“We salute this new generation of Irish people who have neither been purchased nor intimated. It is the duty of Sinn Féin to give clear leadership and a political voice to that section of the Irish people who refuse to accept British rule in our country.

“Thomas Davis said: ‘The people of the country are its wealth’, believing this to be true we must view our struggle to be both political and economic. The struggle for a free Ireland must be about bringing fundamental change .

“In both partitionist states within Ireland today the political establishment is intent on squeezing the most vulnerable and weak in order to protect the vested interests of the powerful and wealthy. Protecting the discredited political and economic system whatever the cost in human terms is the priority in Lenister House, Stormont and Westminster.

“In a recent collection of essays published by Social Justice Ireland Prof PJ Drudy of Trinity College Dublin points out that the measure of what is a successful economy needs to be based on meeting the needs of people: ‘Indeed, we need to turn away for good from the obsession with economic growth and the philosophy of the market to focus instead on a philosophy and a set of values and ethics which facilitates and nurtures human development.’

“This is the philosophy which underpins SAOL NUA Sinn Féin’s proposals for economic democracy. As Irish Republicans we must always return to Wolfe Tone: ‘Our strength shall come from that great and respectable class, the men of no property’. Political and Economic democracy must be the twin pillars of the New Ireland for which we strive.

“On the 1st anniversay of Operation Harvest on December 12 1957 the Republican Movement issued a manifesto setting out the task that remained to be completed: ‘We must win for the Irish people democracy, unity and sovereignty. To achieve these objectives we must end forever interference in our affairs by an outside power. We must drive from our shores the forces of this outside power. We must establish national independence.’ It is a task which remains for us to complete.

“We believe like Pearse that: ‘our patriotism is measured, not by the formula in which we declare it, but by the service which we render.’ We must live up to the legacy of Sabhat and Ó hAnluain by rendering that service.”

by republican Tue Jan 12, 2010 06:19

will ye wait until we are out of recession before you convince them to give us back this 6 county money pit. If you are not careful they just might, since they need the money right now too. Can you imagine how upset the folks of NI will be when they lose their various perks of being part of the UK such as cheap food, health service, hassle free shopping online, (etc etc the list goes on and on). The republic would collapse if we had to take over the 6 counties tomorrow. And the quality of life there would quickly drop there.

Why not work on getting the 26 counties into some sort of sustainable form and kick out all the crooks that run the place so terribly there before integrating another disaster into Ireland? The current lot down south support US killing brown people in Iraq for a few pounds, and give away our natural resources for free to shell. They couldn't organise a kids tea party without stealing from the kids and making a complete mess of the arrangements. And the only clowns that would appear would be themselves.

Get the south in order before you start asking for the north too. The south is currently a complete mess. It is an embarrassment to republicans everywhere that the church and these crooks have been left to destroy Ireland far more thoroughly than the British ever could have. Just look at that bank guarantee for foreign speculators which these criminals passed. 400 billion of liability on the shoulders of the children of Ireland for the likes of Anglo investors and foreign investors. You are looking at the wrong traitors guys! The real ones are down south working in banks and government, screwing over the poor, the weak, and the future children of Ireland.