Spilt fortunes
Sinn Féin came to its annual conference confident in government but less so in opposition, writes Peter Cheney.
The prospect of devolving policing and justice could not have come at a better time for Sinn Féin’s ard fheis, yet its northern strength still contrasted sharply with difficulties south of the border. Several thousand delegates and guests milled around the RDS during the annual gathering on 5-6 March.
This was Sinn Féin’s first conference since topping the northern European poll, a historic achievement, but the party has fared less well south of the border. It polled 11.2 per cent of votes in the Republic, compared to 26 per cent in the North, and republican popularity has not risen despite the Irish Government’s woes.
Sinn Féin is simultaneously in government and in opposition, hence the statesmanlike tones on some subjects and sounds of protest on others. BBC journalist Jim Fitzpatrick has summed this up as “the tale of two cities” i.e. in government and nearly the largest party in Belfast, but the smallest party with no say in government in Dublin.
Resistance
The conference’s timing appeared convenient, taking place as it did on the weekend before the justice devolution vote. Neither Sinn Féin nor the DUP read much into this; indeed the event always takes place around this time of year.
“Everything that Sinn Féin has done is rooted in the equality agenda. That is why some of the big initiatives, particularly on education, have met such resistance,” Gerry Adams told the audience.
Most of his comments, broadcast live on RTÉ, were pitched at southern voters, who were asked to recall how the establishment “refused to distribute the [Celtic Tiger’s] wealth in the common good”. Instead of nationalising wealth, they were happy to nationalise the debt.
In a familiar refrain, he continued: “There is talk of a Cabinet reshuffle. This government doesn’t need a reshuffle. This government needs to go.”
Referring to Nelson Mandela’s release, the leader concluded on a hopeful note: “So, when someone tells you that apartheid would never end; or that peace is not possible; or that a united Ireland is ‘pie in the sky’; or that we can’t make a deal with the DUP; or that we can’t beat this recession; don’t believe them – not for one second. Believe in yourself.”
“Sinn Fein has a proven track record in delivering for people on the ground,” claimed Mary Lou McDonald, pointing to change in government “up the road” and delivery in opposition in the Dáil and council chambers. However, McDonald currently lacks a seat at any political level.
“The race to the bottom that is underway must end,” warned Martin McGuinness, “and the deliberate targeting of the income of working families and public services is not the answer to sorting out this economic mess.”
On southern matters, delegates had agreed to leave the option of going into coalition open but a special conference would be needed before that took place. Reacting to the view that Sinn Féin cannot be trusted in government, McGuinness stated: “Wake up and look north. We are in government, we are taking the hard decisions and we are doing a doing a good job to boot. Their attitude is arrogant, it is partitionist and it is absolutely unacceptable.”
Also unacceptable were Ulster Unionist doubts on justice devolution, termed by McGuinness as a “negative, rejectionist agenda”. The UUP dismissed the criticism as “ludicrous and hypocritical” as Sinn Féin had previously held up the Executive for five months.
McGuinness’ speech was seen within the party as a reaction to the UUP’s sceptical attitude. A source, pleased with the atmosphere, told agendaNi that Sinn Féin was “willing and more importantly capable of government north and south.” The weekend, he reported, had geared members up for the Westminster poll and future campaigning in the South.
Media visitors were impressed with the good organisation and sound system. Translations from Irish to English and vice versa were fed into headphones.
Unity
Like the SDLP and Alliance, Sinn Féin conferences include plenty of motions for debate although their range of subjects crossed the border.
The party leadership (ard chomhairle) warmly backed the end of the 11-plus and congratulated all “progressive elements” in education, politics, the trade union movement and broader society for their continued work against selection. The “give us more time and we will change” argument from grammar schools was rejected as false.
Irish Government cutbacks in grants for Protestant private schools were wrong, delegates concluded, but so also was those schools’ system, which should instead be brought into the public education system.
“We recognise that this is the product of an outdated and antiquated overall education policy and a government ideology that has spurred on the creeping commodification of education,” the motion noted, adding that parents should have their children educated in their chosen ethos.
Sinn Féin’s commitment to an “all-Ireland, single-tier, universal health system” was also reaffirmed, alongside a call for a single, all-island authority for water supply, rivers and lakes. On a timely note, the ard fheis also supported “the right of the Scottish people to selfdetermination.”
Basque, Palestinian and South African speakers are a common sight at ard fheiseanna. A more unlikely guest was Warren Allmand, a former Canadian Attorney-General and therefore once a servant of the Crown.
Allmand, a radical figure, first visited Belfast in 1966 and then returned five times after the ceasefires to observe parade disputes. He now backs an Irish unity pledge, signed by two Canadian MPs and several other dignitaries. For unity to happen, he explained that its supporters “must believe in it, must talk about it and promote it.”
As for the future, delegates will head north next year to a Belfast venue – yet to be confirmed. The traditional RDS has been set aside for a tour of the four provinces, all naturally in keeping with the party’s allisland status.
