When the new Assembly has been elected, it is clear after listening to Michelle O’Neill on BBC on Thursday night, that it will not be back to ‘business as usual’ for Sinn Fein. The RHI scandal will have to be dealt with to the satisfaction of Sinn Fein and the general public. There is the whole Brexit scenario coming down the tracks which will preoccupy the new members for the next three or four years and beyond. The Assembly will be divided on this issue with the Unionists in favour of Brexit and Nationalists/Republicans opposed to Brexit and supporting the popular vote in favour of Remain. Sinn Fein, which could be the largest party after the election, will be arguing for special status for the North given the EU’s input into the peace process thus far and given the commitments in the GFA. I suggest that it will be necessary to engage in further talks with the British and Dublin governments and the unionists about honouring the majority vote to Remain in the EU. Would it not be in the interests of all of the people in Ireland to talk about how to develop an all-island economy?
The RHI scandal brought about the election so that has to be resolved first and foremost-after the election. If there is going to be any new power-sharing administration, by the two largest parties Sinn Fein is insisting that there will have to be changes on the part of the DUP in their attitude to Sinn Fein. The new SF leader in the north, Michelle O’Neill, says that by showing disregard for her party the DUP is showing disrespect for those who vote for SF. They are wiling to work along with the DUP in a power-sharing executive –but only if the DUP changes its attitude to Sinn Fein and to the Irish culture so important to many SF voters. Arlene Foster’s latest ‘crocodile’ out burst does not augur well for the future if she continues to be the one chosen as either first or deputy first minister. If she is she as the architect of the scheme will have to step aside while the RHI scandal is investigated.
There are people in the DUP who were never happy with the GFA and its recognition of the Irish dimension and its insistence on equality. The DUP were not involved in negotiating it and even opposed it until Dr Paisley led them into a power-sharing executive with Martin McGuinness in what seemed like a road to Damascus conversion by Dr Paisley. After the election the DUP have a choice –to appoint a new First Minister or to stick with Arlene.
As well as dropping Arlene as first Minister a new DUP first minister in Stormont will have to reach out to the nationalist/republican tradition with a generous statement accepting their mandate and expressing a desire to respect it and to work to implement outstanding aspects of the Stormont House Agreement-including an Irish Language Act. In the interests of maintaining the Good Friday Agreement the DUP should make a statement to the effect that they intend to honour all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement especially those pertaining to parity of esteem and that they intend to be respectful and courteous to those from the other tradition who are elected to represent the Republican/nationalist community. I believe this commitment by the DUP will be necessary if Sinn Fein is to enter into a new power-sharing executive with the DUP. The future is uncertain – but it will be interesting.
I hope Sinn Fein stick to those demands!
Vote Sinn Fein and be sure
Jim
I assume you to be the Sinn Fein Jim Neeson so can you clarify is SF saying they will not return to power sharing with Arlene as First Minister at least until the RHI enquiry is completed?
Some clarity on this would be appreciated by everyone I think.
yep,doesnt appear to be any red lines for the voters to decide on.looks like its arlene or direct rule on offer.
billy
I agree.
If Arlene is a red line then SF should say so clearly.
If they do not it suggests that everything will be negotiable immediately after the election.
gio, the negotiations which will follow the elections will not be limited to local parties.
On their own, there is absolutely nothing the DUP could agree to which would see Stormont returned.
Unionism, not only the DUP have defaulted and are not fit for government.
Changes required will include:
parity of esteem has to be guaranteed by both governments.
This includes their own actions and will mean the veto on truth blocked for national security will have to go first of all.
The southern government will have to explain whether or not they support this veto or will support all of the families seeking justice including the Dublin Monaghan bombing.
The money for legacy issues will have to be released.
A mechanism to enforce reasonable conduct and to counter abuse of the veto of concern which should be a joint body with members allocated from both governments.
A joint fund needs to be setup to compensate businesses on both sides of the border for any paperwork and expenses imposed as a result of brexit. Local businesses and farms should not be out money over brexit otherwise goods including food will go up for the public.
Once we get this far, we can then discuss what steps all parties must agree to if they are returned. It is absolutely out of the question that Arlene can come back as first minister before being exonerated from the inquiry which is so highly unlikely it wouldn’t be accepted by the public.
Whatever unionist party comes out on top will have to sign up to parity of esteem which will require an Irish language act. Irish is our own language, protestant and catholic alike, it is not the same as Polish, it is clearly the only way to protect it.
No one is going to believe any unionist party is sincere if they block an Irish language act. Not only the language, but the Irish tri colour is the flag of Ireland and I want it respected as the flag of my country whether we remain in the UK or not.
Sinn Fein should not spell it out as red lines just to appease shit stirrers.
If anyone is expecting a few fudges and a return of the devolved executive they will be disappointed. It is not simply a red line but the end of the road.
What comes out of the negotiations will determine the direction of a new road altogether.
A red line simply wont cut it.
jessica
With respect that is your wish list and not necessarily SF policy.
That is why I was hoping Declan or even Jim Neeson might have given some concrete answers instead of vague waffle about respect.
Don’t you think voters have a right to know what SF intend to do after the election?
why was all them issues not sorted they have been there ten years.just more proof theres no point voting for more of the same.at least direct rule will drag the place into 2017 in line with civilisation.
Or better still, join the party and be part of building a new Ireland for the benefit of everyone on this island not just selective communities.
Is there a ‘e’ in fudge?
I’m predicting that after the election I would not like to be a member of the social democratic and labour party.(APPARENTLY i HAVE TO DESCRIBE THEM IN THE MOST RESPECTFUL OF TERMS FROM NOW ON!).They are in for the biggest electoral thrashing of all time.
you sound like a petulant schoolboy Micheal c.
Moser
Indeed.Michael C consistently displays a barely concealed aggression towards the S D L P.I would have thought that presently the big enemy for Shinners would be the D U P but apparently not.One wonders what the S D L P ever did on poor Micheal to merit such hatred.
where nationalists are now in the north is more of a progressive evaluation rather than any strong leadership from Sinn Fein. How can we trust SF to negotiate anything on our behalf when we now know just how watertight both the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements were? If SF had negotiated the purchase of my house and made such a hash of it, then I don’t think I would be trusting them again. It turns out we were being conned over the last twenty something years. And who were the people conned the most? not the middle and upper-class voters that SF now need to attract if they are to grow politically, but the working, and none working nationalists in the most deprived areas from which SF grew.
Correction: that should read progressive evolution.
I trust them completely and would trust no one else.
Who would you trust moser?
I agree with you on the who they need to attract now to grow. Not far left socialist marxist bollox, but middle voters and working people who want better opportunities.
I will never be a socialist.
Sorry Jessica, but I thought SF were a socialist party? Least they used to be.
My concern isn’t that they are a Socialist Party but rather, they don’t morph into a Conservative Party. Did SF make a balls of negotiating both agreements or not ?
I wonder if Joe McVeigh would agree with me that of the two Tyrone Michelles, Gildernew’s vernacular “Michelle (O’N) will take no shite” and “We’ll put manners on Arlene” is much more convincing than O’Neill’s more politically correct dabbling in the more abstract Latinisms of “integrity”, “respect”, “inappropriate language”, “not language I would use”, and “DUP’s contempt, arrogance, disrespect” ? Of course, Michelle Gildernew had the advantage of an Armagh and Sacred Heart education – greatly superior to the Academy in Dungannon.
As a fairly vernacular South Armagh man, I’d hope that when your Fermanagh Arlenes go low, Tyrone’s Michelles could manage to go even lower, getting the boot into the shins and the fist in the jugular at the same time.
Then they would get my vote Eddie.
It’s better to speak softly and carry a big stick. Look at the people who blast out more hot air than an empty DUP poultry house and are going to have to wear ashes after the election.
You should take a look at that Armagh school now Eddie. A proper wee British school I would say. In fact it’s starting to resemble a prison what with all its innovative fingerprint I.d’s,cameras and security doors. You’d swear the principal got her training in the US.
Sinn Fein will need to decide whether they want to support all of the people of this island or only the socialists. I will never be a socialist and Ireland is not a socialist country and I doubt very much it ever will be.
As for making a balls.
In my view, no they did not.
The peace process has survived, conflict has not yet returned, Irish nationalism in my community is stronger now than I have ever seen it in my life..
The southern establishment and their media have less fuel to attack republicans than ever before. Businesses in the south are becoming more confident in talking about uniting the country for the sake of the economy which they would not be if conflict had returned.
If you mean they haven’t delivered everything they negotiated, then that is correct, and is also why the nationalist community is so animated.
If you think that would have happened anyway then I completely disagree.
Had Sinn Fein acted a stubbornly as Arlene, the economy would have suffered, nationalists would be angry not only at unionist parties but at Sinn Fein and would not be interested in Irish identity issues but bread and butter issues.
What I am surprised about it that there has been so little british state interference, I was expecting them to throw more against Sinn Fein which they haven’t which is interesting. Some of the language from the southern establishment has also surprised me and is probably more down to confusion over brexit and what to do about it.
While not a socialist, I am not a conservative. I would be centre left or a mixture of public and private controls to get the best of both. Ireland is too conservative, I would slash rent, and hit land lords hard with high taxes for multiple house ownership. In fact many of my own view of what is needed would be considered socialist but it is more because good governance need to be fluid and move from left to centre left as the global economy dictates.
If an economy requires such flexibility then it is foolish for a political party to anchor themselves to one place in my view.
If a business requires a change in strategy to deal with a unforeseen event, you do what is for the best. A country is the same.
“If you mean they haven’t delivered everything they negotiated ………” That’s exactly what he means. Ten years they have spent – wasted – pissing about in Stormont. Seizing every opportunity to make wee boys of the shady Redmondites, they neglected to produce anything of value. They couldn’t even tie their opponents down to agreements that had already been negotiated. Martin and his bedfellows were that busy doing curtsies to show how well housetrained they were that they didn’t keep their eye on the ball. They forgot why they were there. I didn’t vote for them to glad hand the German Queen or to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Continuity RUC and call other republicans traitors. They have short memories. I say give them one last chance to redeem themselves then forget about them.
So Jessica, are SF a Socialist party ?
I have to say Jessica your attempts to get people to vote SF will not be helped if you continue to dismiss those who happen to have a socialist outlook. Btw, anybody that knows anything about canvassing on doorsteps will tell you that most doors you knock will often be greeted with a ‘yes I’ll vote for ye’ I.e they’ll say anything to get rid of you. Just saying.
If you believe there is no point voting, why are you so desperate to get people not to vote?
If you really believed that, then what is your problem?
Nationalists will be voting, certainly in greater numbers than the last election. What I am hearing on the doorsteps is mainly positive and they want a better future. That can only be achieved through voting and so long as a majority do so, your bitterness towards it doesn’t matter for shit.
The DUP I am sure are proud of you billy and would love to see more like you.
It wouldn’t surprise me if you were a DUP voter.
so its ok for you to encourage people to vote in britsh elections and not ok for others to discourage them,and you have the cheek to bang on about equality.
Physical assault for your vote moser
They would be better off without it.
If such crap talk impresses you I think you would be better off voting DUP
I don’t understand that comment Jessica, guess you wrote it in a rage. So much anger.
Oh is Britain voting too Billy
You are a geg
But you are also a weasel with an anti republican agenda
You would be more alike with the bnp
when in a corner throw insults.no arlene/snarlene.sf/provos allowed on the site anymore but if your in the right clique insult away.equality,eh.
No, they are a republican party
Socialism will be a driving factor in many economic policies but is not always what a country needs
If far left ideals are more important to you perhaps pbp is the party for you
Is that your interpretation or SF official policy ? I suggest you go on their website. Also, if you are going to lay claim to being a republican then, I suggest you read the proclamation. You are mightily confused about what you stand for.. your not a Socialist and yet you are campaigning for a Socialist party.
“Socialism will be a driving factor in many economic policies but is not always what a country needs”
Only in banking fraud bail outs then? I see.
No moser
Sometimes the truth hurts
If you seek base attitude arrogance and animosity then the Dup may be more suited to you
I have no issue with a socialist outlook, indeed I would agree with many of Jeremy corbyns policies but would not consider them far left the way the media do
In fact it is probably this labeling which weakens his credibility unfortunately
I would like to see clear blue water between sinn fein policies and that of the pbp
Let’s put it that way
People can vote for whoever they see fit to
This election is not Bout stormont it is about the new direction we go in
Everyone should vote no matter who they care to vote for
By not voting you may as well be voting for the Dup
Just saying
Still a load of poop though
Are you on the liquor?
I thought the flag read irish Republic not irish socialist Republic
Please point out to me where the proclamation claims republicans must be socialists
More importantly where does it read about throat gouging
Perhaps you should read it yourself as sinn fein is the only party on this island living up to its principals which are to unite all of our people
Jessica, a poor attempt at deflection. No mention of the SF website I see. Anyway, more fool me for
engaging with you in the first place.
Is that the best you’ve got wt?
Your criticism smacks more of desperation
Banking bail outs were not My idea of social outlook
I believe people given mortgages now deemed unacceptable should have the negative equity removed from their debt as a more suitable bail out
Land Lords need to be heavily taxed for multiple property ownership and banned from a place in government
Rent should not be capped but slashed and house prices and wages brought into a more realistic position based on real accounting and not fantasy economics of recent years
Not going to happen when most republicans prefer to whinge about everything under the sun and blame it all on sinn fein
It is time to cut strings
“Your criticism smacks more of desperation”
Nope, not desperate at all. However having read your comments about socialism, communism etc further down this blog I have concluded that there is no point discussing the pros and cons with people who believe they are knowledgeable on these topics, albeit that knowledge was obtained from a Eurocentric education system.
I don’t drink wt
The DUP are their own worst enemy.
The SDLP have a hardcore catholic unionist core who detest sinn fein every bit as much as the DUP and are very much pro status quo.
They wont have been amused with colums recent shows of republicanism which may have gone too far. They will have gained nationalist votes from this, but they may well have lost their unionist transfers which would do them more harm.
Mike nesbitt told his own party colum was playing to his audience. Out of all of the parties here, the SDLP would be the one I despise the most for their duplicitous and deceitful stance over many decades.
The SDLP have no chance of becoming the largest nationalist party, may well see their vote drop further but unfortunately I believe that they will cost sinn fein seats and they will be for nothing but to refuse to take them to be in opposition with their UUP partners.
You are one to be taking moser, claiming the proclamation claims republicans must be socialist. Absolute rubbish
As for their website, this is what google throws up from a search and I see no mention of the word socialist on their home page.
“Sinn Féin is an Irish republican political party dedicated to the reunification of Ireland and an end to British jurisdiction in the north of Ireland.”
I don’t doubt socialism has its place, but it is not the foundation of the republic called for in the proclamation which is the one sought by Sinn Fein.
Now you show me otherwise
WHAT SINN FEIN STANDS FOR
1. IRELAND UNITED
Sinn Fein is a 32 county party striving for an end to partition on the island of Ireland and the establishment of a democratic socialist republic.
http://www.sinnfein.ie./what-sinn-fein-stands-for
Settle down, boys and girls.
I read Foster’s piece in Saturday’s IrishNews. She said something along the lines of respecting nationalists/republicans “living in Northern Ireland”.
Her use of the words “Living in Northern Ireland” struck me as the words of someone who does not view nationalism as being from the north or native to the north. Merely resident, a guest in Arlene’s wee country.
I simply can not see how SF can hope to share power with her. She is an unreformable bigot that sees nationalism as alien and rogue to her country.
Why do you think Sinn Fein hope to share power with her Cal?
She is under investigation for RHI and cannot and will not be first minister before this concludes. It hasn’t gone away and a public inquiry will take at least a year if not years and I would say the chances of her being exonerated are next to nil.
Arlene signed her own political fate along with the letters to the banks she wrote to guarantee public money would be paid to her buddies for RHI so they could borrow the money to cash in on her raid of the public purse.
Power sharing is no longer in the gift of the DUP never mind Arlene.
How can any nationalist agree to power sharing without the fulfilment of previous agreements and guarantees from both governments such agreements will be honoured in future including movement on legacy issues and truth?
The veto on national security has to be removed and the Irish government needs to step up to ensure that it is.
It is growing more unlikely that it will be the current Dublin government that has this responsibility, but one which Sinn Fein will be a part of.
There will be no stronger voice in these negotiations than Sinn Fein and it is more imperative that all republicans and nationalists vote than ever before.
This is much bigger than a return to power sharing. Both governments must be held to account for their failures also. It will be too late after the election to lend your support.
It is time for us all to make a choice and live with it afterwards.
Arlene is reaching out to the 6 county DUP republicans. I want a 32 county republic and I will accept nothing less.
It is an important conversation that needs to be had.
Democratic socialism can be misleading.
Socialism is communism which I find abhorrent and will never support. I cannot imagine either of these islands being communist or even following a democratic version of soviet style socialism.
Democratic socialism doesn’t work, and Sinn Feins policies to date are more conducive to a socialist democracy which I and a majority of Irish people could be supportive of.
To clarify, where the proclamation claims ownership of Ireland to the people of Ireland, does not mean the state owns all land and property, controls all businesses and operates like a soviet style communist state.
It means the people of Ireland alone, will decide who leads our nation and the style of government they operate under for the benefit of all of the people of Ireland, and that includes those with british identities being treated as equals just as we expect the same in the north while under british jurisdiction.
What Ireland needs is a more socialist democracy where state intervention seeks only to “humanize” capitalism and not put multi nationals above domestic businesses such as allowing Apple to keep 13 billion of taxes that would be owed by an Irish company as shady sweetheart dealings while homeless figures rise and waiting lists for health care go through the roof.
There is a difference. One works, the other does not.
I want an economically strong and prosperous Ireland, not an Irish cuba.
The architect of the bombing campaign here in the 70s was a communist. Is he not one of your heroes.
So you would prefer to try and convince people who aren’t knowledgeable on these topics.
Is that really your stance?
It is the domestic business community that is sustaining Irelands economy at the moment, of which I am a part off, and if you cannot or will not discuss economic options for a new Ireland then how do you expect anyone to take you seriously?
And what does that mean to you moser?
Is it a republic which is a socialist democracy or a soviet style socialist republic which respects democracy?
Or is it just words to you that you don’t really understand?
Let me simplify it. Are you for a Marxist society where the state controls all industry and all public services or is it a strong domestic economy with better investment in local growth and public services based on a more social agenda?
For when it comes to red lines, there is a very clear red line between these two interpretations of social democracy and we will be on very different sides depending on that choice.
It would help if I knew who you were talking about Dominic.
James Connolly is one of my heroes but I would argue against his economic ideals for todays Ireland.
Iceland would be a good example of the type of economy I feel Ireland needs to develop. A business oriented approach, forward thinking, innovative, confident and very successful – all done without the austerity Ireland has already endured.
What is your own view on communism and Irelands best economic model going forward Dominic?
You really be happy with a basic income tax of 37% Jessica? That’s for everyone up to around £5000 then it’s up to around 45%.
Iceland certainly have great public services but they pay through the nose for them.
I know very little about it but I like the idea of people before profit. I think I’d favour a mixed economy for Ireland with strong unions to protect workers. The balance in a lot of companies doesn’t favour workers with too much emphasis on HR and micro management. Even locally developed businesses depend on and exploit worker ignorance. The unions are at fault too for not giving proper leadership and only getting involved when there is a problem and that’s if a worker in a factory is a member, which often is not the case.
Taxation in Ireland is high already unless you are Apple.
It is also something that should be based on economic performance and adjusted to suit the needs of the economy.
What I meant was how Iceland used failings to turn them into a success, invested in their economy to avoid austerity and developed new innovative industries to export to the world.
Ireland has a huge tourism potential, we need the development at the Maze to go ahead, we need a museums and thousands of new hotels to accommodate the demand.
We need to invest in serious social housing to guarantee economic stimulus no matter what happens with Trumps bringing jobs back to the US.
I want to see investment in renewable energy and for Ireland to export this technology with turbines built in Belfast and shipped around the world.
I want to see a conflict resolution centre which should attract 100,000 foreign diplomatic visitors each year from conflict suffering nations.
I want to see a financial centre providing expertise in dealing with the global changes to tax inspired by the term leprechaun economics where Irelands screw up resulting in a phantom budget and inaccurate accounting could actually become a new revenue stream attracting visits from nations around the world wanting to learn what not to do when dealing with multi nationals and their tax demands.
I mean follow the things Iceland did well, not literally replicate their economy as Ireland has its own expertise in the technical services sector which we need to protect.
We also need to seriously replace the UK as our main export market and to beyond the EU which is happening anyway.
What is it you like about people before profit?
It would be my view that workers rights should be protected constitutionally so they can keep their money in their own pockets rather than paying unions which should be a thing of the past once we get the legislation right and working for the people.
A lot of it is down to employer education, I have experienced bad work environments, I can tell you that a happy work force given respect, flexibility around their home and work life and fair remuneration will more than pay for itself from increased productivity and performance as well as improved loyalty.
There are plenty of conversations to be had and we really need to look beyond past conflicts of we are to get anywhere.
Those that are unable to move on should be left behind.
“past conflicts” open your eyes. Greed never sleeps and neither does the struggle for justice.
I honestly will be contacting SF regarding your comment about unions . Shame on you.
So your bringing an unnamed architect of a bombing campaign in the 70s into a current economic conversation was your contribution to the struggle for justice was it Dominic?
That wasn’t a serious comment and just shows your ability to jump around like a political jack the box when you don’t like the way the conversation is going.
I am glad you are an SDLP supporter Dominic
You’re attacking me because you’re comment about unions reveals what you really think. Your economics isn’t far from Thatcherism
You never gave me your views on the type of socialist republic you would like Ireland to be moser.
Perhaps instead of MT style hang my head in shame comments, you can tell me some of the benefits you feel it is worth handing hard earned money over to a union for, that could not be better protected more thoroughly through constitutional legislation?
Seems to me, the bigger the trade unions the poorer the working conditions. Where workers are treated fairer with better pay and working conditions, and it is protected by legislation, it is no coincidence that unions are in decline in such places.
I hope you do go to Sinn Fein, these are conversations that need to be had.
I will tell you one thing. Ireland will not be united before we have such conversations.
It is time we started discussing a united economy more seriously for a soviet style socialist republic has zero chance of success and that is a reality check some people need to start getting used to.
If I was attacking you Dominic you would know about it.
There are too many sensitive souls in this place but if you are going to dish out crap you really do need to be able to take some in return.
I wasn’t complaining Jessica. You weren’t being consistent in your argument but jumping from pillar to post. I was just pointing that out.
It is just a conversation Dominic.
We need new ideas and new thinking, no point going on about change if we are all going to go around in the same circles.
I am not saying I know better than everyone else, but I am saying we need to discuss all options with an open mind.
That is if we want the future to be better than the past.
In my experience that means strong campaigning unions because I don’t see businesses rushing out to be inclusive. That is not to say there are not fair minded businesses out there.
I suspect that over the coming months we will see the results of poor economic governance by Fine Gael, false accounting resulting in public sector pay demands they simply cant afford which will knock on to other areas further exasperating the problem, coupled with poor legislation for workers rights and strong unions which will inevitably lead to various and prolonged public sector strikes for pay and pensions far in excess of that of the private sector.