ger at corruption, neglect and veto on change
The Putting People First section of the Ard Fheis on Saturday
morning, vented the anger and frustration of republicans at the
failure, thus far, of the British and Dublin governments to deliver
substantive change.
Though optimistic regarding the expansion of Sinn Féin's mandate and
the attraction of more and more young people to the party, Sinn Féin
Vice President Pat Doherty said that ``recent times have shown us that
there are those who wish to obstruct the momentum for change''. The
Ulster Unionist Party, he said, wish to ``retain a veto over change...
republicans will not accept that decision''. Calling on David Trimble
to implement the Good Friday Agreement, he warned that ``republicans
cannot do this alone''. Doherty also said that ``some redefined
document to placate those who have failed to grasp the opportunity
for change'' is destined for failure.
Sinn Féin election candidates highlighted the radical reform of local
government needed to empower communities and free the hands of
councillors. Dublin South East Inner City representative, Daithí
Doolan, said ``we have no local government''. While people believe they
are exercising their franchise at elections, the sad reality was that
``elected councillors have little power to implement the wishes of
their constituents''. In his own area, the lack of consultation with
local representatives in relation to corporate developments has
angered the community.
Seán Crowe, EU election candidate for Dublin, slammed the ``sham
reform offered by successive governments. Substantial devolution of
powers and finances to local government'' must happen, he said, and
must happen on ``an all-Ireland basis''. This would mean that the IDA,
IFA and other development bodies would be subject to local
consultation. Cork Sinn Féin Councillor Cionnaith O Súilleabháin
conveyed the complacency and corruption of many politicians involved
in local government. ``Treat them like mushrooms - feed them and keep
them in the dark,'' is a common comment he has heard. Councillor
Christy Burke, from Dublin's North Inner City, contrasted distorted
``Celtic Tiger'' propaganda with the stark realities of social
exclusion. ``6,500 on the Dublin Corporation Housing list, 2,500 on
the Homeless list and 2,000 Senior Citizens seeking accommodation are
not the traits of a just and equal society,'' he said.
``Mothers and children are referred to hospitals which are dickensian
and substandard''. Much of the reason for the land and housing
shortage, Burke explained, was the selling of Dublin lands to private
developers by Fianna Fáil, in 1985. Most people now ``know the reason
why private developers got these lands''. Now, more than ever,
``unscrupulous landlords'' implement the ``maximum rent increases'' in
his area. This, Burke had no doubt, must end sooner rather than
later.
Connaught/Ulster EU candidate Seán Mac Manus was typically frank
about the lack of concern for the regions: ``Unfortunately it appears
to me that the government of this state do not know where Sligo is'',
and the same goes for Leitrim, Roscommon, Galway, Mayo and
surrounding counties. They are, he said, ``a new area beyond the
Pale''. If this situation of rural degeneration continues, he said,
``it will no longer be to hell or to Connaught, but to hell out of
Connaught.''
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