All activists called to election effort
There was a strong call at the Ard Fheis for Sinn Féin activists
from throughout Ireland to help in the upcoming Assembly
elections.
Caoimhghín O Caoláin TD said:
``It is going to be a national effort by Sinn Féin and on behalf
of the Ard Chomhairle I urge activists from all 32 Counties to
get involved. We are poised to present our greatest electoral
challenge yet to all our opponents but it will require a massive
effort. Together we can make this our best election yet.''
On future elections he said: ``Next year in the 26 Counties local
elections in 1999 must be a top priority for our membership. On
the firm foundation of local government successes we can build
for Leinster House elections. I look forward to taking my place
on a team of Sinn Féin TDs. Take it from me that the Big House in
Kildare Street is an institution which badly needs to be woken up
and shaken up and we are the ones to do it.
``From this Ard Fheis let us put the SDLP, Fianna Fáil, the Labour
Party and the rest on notice that the radical republican
alternative to their decades of failure is on the rise and
growing stronger - and that alternative is Sinn Féin.''
The Ard Fheis passed a resolution calling for complete reform of
the Seanad. Speaking on this issue Seán Conlon of Monaghan town
said: ``The Seanad as currently constituted is a travesty of
democracy and a huge waste of public money. But we argue that the
simple immediate abolition of the Seanad, as others proposed,
shows no consideration for the possible potential of the upper
house.''
Caoimhghín O Caoláin proposed and Bairbre de Brún seconded a
successful emergency motion from the Ard Chomhairle calling for
national voting and representation rights for citizens in the Six
Counties. O Caoláin said: ``We are urging that those elected in
the Six Counties should have the right not only to attend but to
participate in the proceedings of Leinster House. This is a
logical and democratic proposal and we have succeeded in putting
it high on the political agenda. We advocated it at the
multi-party negotiations and since in discussions with the Irish
government. I myself raised it in a one-on-one meeting with the
Taoiseach on 22 April. It is now time for it to be followed
through. The task is there for the Government and Opposition in
Dublin to adopt the radical rethink which is required and then to
implement this proposal.''
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