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News about the Irish & Irish American culture, music, news, sports. This is hosted by the Irish Aires radio show on KPFT-FM 90.1 in Houston, Texas (a Pacifica community radio station)
November 06, 2006
SF Endorses St Andrews As Having Potential To Move Process Forward
News about Ireland and the Irish
IA 11/06/06 Sinn Fein Executive Endorses St. Andrews Plan
SF 11/06/06 St. Andrews Has The Potential To Move The Process Forward
******************************
http://www.iais.org
Sinn Fein Executive Endorses St. Andrews Plan
11/06/06 09:41 EST
The Sinn Fein leadership has finished meeting in Dublin to
discuss the St Andrews Agreement. The party's ard
chomhairle (executive) has decided to "follow the course
set out in the agreement".
Party president Gerry Adams said that it has the potential
to move the process forward.
The ard chomhairle was briefed by MEP Mary Lou McDonald who
along with MP Conor Murphy had been heading the
consultation on the agreement.
Ms McDonald said the meeting had been called to discuss the
consultations within Sinn Fein.
These "have taken place across Ireland over the last
fortnight", she said.
"There is a huge responsibility on all of the parties and
the two governments at this time. If we can bring about a
situation where anti-agreement unionists share power on the
basis of equality with republicans, it will be a huge
achievement. "
"But we need to ensure that progress is made on the basis
of the Good Friday Agreement. Events of the last two weeks
show us how difficult all of this is going to be to achieve
and how much work has still to be done."
At the weekend, Irish Premier Bertie Ahern said there was
overwhelming support within the DUP for the implementation
of the St Andrews Agreement.
"I understand the DUP consultation process is 90 plus for
(the St Andrews Agreement)," he said.
Northern Ireland's parties have until 10 November to give
their verdicts on the draft St Andrews Agreement.
The British and Irish governments have set a date of 26
March 2007 for a new executive to be up and running.
The British chancellor (Treasury Secretary), Gordon Brown,
has promised £50bn (USD$96 Billion) to Northern Ireland
over the next 10 years if power is devolved at Stormont.
The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October
2002 amid allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont.
The court case that followed collapsed when it later
emerged that the key individual at the center of the spy
allegations, Denis Donaldson, was a British Intelligence
agent.
Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and
has been in place since.
----
The Irish American Information Service is a non-profit
organization providing up-to-the-minute political news from
Ireland to the world. The IAIS is funded entirely by your
contributions. Please send your tax-deductible
contributions to IAIS at the 907 F St NE, Washington DC
20002. You can visit us on the Web at http://www.iais.org
******************************
http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/16629
St. Andrews Has The Potential To Move The Process Forward
Published: 6 November, 2006
Sinn Féin Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP today reported
back to the Ard Chomhairle on the consultation, which has
taken place within the party over the past fortnight and
the recent discussions with the British and Irish
governments. Since the Ard Chomhairle met on October 19th
in Dublin more than 60 meetings have taken place throughout
Ireland.
Speaking following the meeting Sinn Féin President Gerry
Adams said:
"Today's meeting has mandated the party leadership to
follow the course set out at St. Andrews and we intend to
do this in a very positive way. Our focus is on delivering
the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and to
bring about the restoration of the power-sharing and all-
Ireland political institutions as quickly as possible."
Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald, who headed up the
consultation panel set up by the Ard Chomhairle, said:
"Sinn Féin's objective in the negotiations that led up to
St. Andrews was to advance the peace process and bring
about the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
This required the DUP to move to share power jointly with
Sinn Fein in the Executive and participate fully in the
All-Ireland Ministerial Council.
"If these objectives can be achieved they will mark an
historic development on this island.
"Because of the importance of what is at stake we examined
the proposals of the British and Irish governments in
detail and consulted widely both within the party and in
the wider community.
"There are ongoing negotiations on a number of core issues
and there are elements in the two governments position
which need further work to keep them in line with the Good
Friday Agreement.
"Following a thorough discussion the Ard Chomhairle agreed
that the process set out at St. Andrews has the potential
to deliver the full implementation of the Good Friday
Agreement and to bring about the restoration of the power-
sharing and all-Ireland political institutions. It also
mandated the party leadership to continue with the ongoing
negotiations to resolve the outstanding core issues.
"The issue of policing also came up at today's meeting but
the primary focus of our deliberations was on the re-
establishment of the political institutions following the
St. Andrews talks.
"The resolution of the issue of policing and justice is a
matter for the two governments and all the political
parties. Issues, which need resolved include agreement on
the model and timeframe for transfer.
"Sinn Féin is committed to bring an end to decades of
repressive and sectarian policing. All elements in policing
need to be accountable. Sinn Féin rejects any role in
Ireland or in civic policing for MI5.
"Justice and the fair and impartial rule of law are
essential elements of a society at peace with itself. We
want to see democratically accountable civic policing and
we will continue to work until we achieve this. Gerry Adams
will propose to the Ard Chomhairle that we convene a
special Ard Fheis as soon as these matters are resolved.
"Of course there are many challenges still to be overcome.
The refusal of Ian Paisley to attend the Programme for
Government Committee meeting is a set back. And the refusal
of the British government to convene this committee in the
three weeks since then has meant that little progress has
been made in relation to some of the key outstanding
issues.
"The Programme for Government Committee should meet
urgently. There should be no more unnecessary delays.
November 24th has been set by the governments for a meeting
of the Assembly to nominate the First Minister and Deputy
First Minister. We look forward to this happening." ENDS
----
Full text of motion passed by Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle
"The Ard Chomhairle notes the report on its consultation
process and on recent discussions between the party
negotiation team and the two governments.
This includes the concerns raised, the progress made and
the work still ongoing.
We believe that the process set out at St. Andrews has the
potential to deliver the full implementation of the Good
Friday Agreement and to bring about the restoration of the
power-sharing and all-Ireland political institutions.
However, there are elements in the document set out by the
two governments, which require further work to keep them in
line with the Good Friday Agreement.
There are ongoing negotiations in relation to a number of
core issues which have yet to be resolved.
Subject to delivery of these issues the commitments set out
in the governments‚ St. Andrews statement could represent a
way forward. The Ard Chomhairle mandates the party
President and national Officer Board to pursue all of this
and to report back to the Ard Chomhairle.
We reiterate our view that the issue of policing and
justice is a matter for the two governments and all the
political parties. Issues to be agreed include a timeframe
for the transfer of powers and a model for the department
on policing and justice.
Sinn Fein is committed to bring an end to decades of
repressive and sectarian policing.
We reject any role for MI5 in Ireland or in civic policing.
We want to see democratically accountable civic policing
and we will continue to work until we achieve this."
----
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Or get full news from Irish Aires Yahoo Group, Click here
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To November Index
To Index of Monthly Archives
IA 11/06/06 Sinn Fein Executive Endorses St. Andrews Plan
SF 11/06/06 St. Andrews Has The Potential To Move The Process Forward
******************************
http://www.iais.org
Sinn Fein Executive Endorses St. Andrews Plan
11/06/06 09:41 EST
The Sinn Fein leadership has finished meeting in Dublin to
discuss the St Andrews Agreement. The party's ard
chomhairle (executive) has decided to "follow the course
set out in the agreement".
Party president Gerry Adams said that it has the potential
to move the process forward.
The ard chomhairle was briefed by MEP Mary Lou McDonald who
along with MP Conor Murphy had been heading the
consultation on the agreement.
Ms McDonald said the meeting had been called to discuss the
consultations within Sinn Fein.
These "have taken place across Ireland over the last
fortnight", she said.
"There is a huge responsibility on all of the parties and
the two governments at this time. If we can bring about a
situation where anti-agreement unionists share power on the
basis of equality with republicans, it will be a huge
achievement. "
"But we need to ensure that progress is made on the basis
of the Good Friday Agreement. Events of the last two weeks
show us how difficult all of this is going to be to achieve
and how much work has still to be done."
At the weekend, Irish Premier Bertie Ahern said there was
overwhelming support within the DUP for the implementation
of the St Andrews Agreement.
"I understand the DUP consultation process is 90 plus for
(the St Andrews Agreement)," he said.
Northern Ireland's parties have until 10 November to give
their verdicts on the draft St Andrews Agreement.
The British and Irish governments have set a date of 26
March 2007 for a new executive to be up and running.
The British chancellor (Treasury Secretary), Gordon Brown,
has promised £50bn (USD$96 Billion) to Northern Ireland
over the next 10 years if power is devolved at Stormont.
The Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended on 14 October
2002 amid allegations of a republican spy ring at Stormont.
The court case that followed collapsed when it later
emerged that the key individual at the center of the spy
allegations, Denis Donaldson, was a British Intelligence
agent.
Direct rule from London was restored in October 2002 and
has been in place since.
----
The Irish American Information Service is a non-profit
organization providing up-to-the-minute political news from
Ireland to the world. The IAIS is funded entirely by your
contributions. Please send your tax-deductible
contributions to IAIS at the 907 F St NE, Washington DC
20002. You can visit us on the Web at http://www.iais.org
******************************
http://www.sinnfein.ie/news/detail/16629
St. Andrews Has The Potential To Move The Process Forward
Published: 6 November, 2006
Sinn Féin Chairperson Mary Lou McDonald MEP today reported
back to the Ard Chomhairle on the consultation, which has
taken place within the party over the past fortnight and
the recent discussions with the British and Irish
governments. Since the Ard Chomhairle met on October 19th
in Dublin more than 60 meetings have taken place throughout
Ireland.
Speaking following the meeting Sinn Féin President Gerry
Adams said:
"Today's meeting has mandated the party leadership to
follow the course set out at St. Andrews and we intend to
do this in a very positive way. Our focus is on delivering
the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and to
bring about the restoration of the power-sharing and all-
Ireland political institutions as quickly as possible."
Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald, who headed up the
consultation panel set up by the Ard Chomhairle, said:
"Sinn Féin's objective in the negotiations that led up to
St. Andrews was to advance the peace process and bring
about the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
This required the DUP to move to share power jointly with
Sinn Fein in the Executive and participate fully in the
All-Ireland Ministerial Council.
"If these objectives can be achieved they will mark an
historic development on this island.
"Because of the importance of what is at stake we examined
the proposals of the British and Irish governments in
detail and consulted widely both within the party and in
the wider community.
"There are ongoing negotiations on a number of core issues
and there are elements in the two governments position
which need further work to keep them in line with the Good
Friday Agreement.
"Following a thorough discussion the Ard Chomhairle agreed
that the process set out at St. Andrews has the potential
to deliver the full implementation of the Good Friday
Agreement and to bring about the restoration of the power-
sharing and all-Ireland political institutions. It also
mandated the party leadership to continue with the ongoing
negotiations to resolve the outstanding core issues.
"The issue of policing also came up at today's meeting but
the primary focus of our deliberations was on the re-
establishment of the political institutions following the
St. Andrews talks.
"The resolution of the issue of policing and justice is a
matter for the two governments and all the political
parties. Issues, which need resolved include agreement on
the model and timeframe for transfer.
"Sinn Féin is committed to bring an end to decades of
repressive and sectarian policing. All elements in policing
need to be accountable. Sinn Féin rejects any role in
Ireland or in civic policing for MI5.
"Justice and the fair and impartial rule of law are
essential elements of a society at peace with itself. We
want to see democratically accountable civic policing and
we will continue to work until we achieve this. Gerry Adams
will propose to the Ard Chomhairle that we convene a
special Ard Fheis as soon as these matters are resolved.
"Of course there are many challenges still to be overcome.
The refusal of Ian Paisley to attend the Programme for
Government Committee meeting is a set back. And the refusal
of the British government to convene this committee in the
three weeks since then has meant that little progress has
been made in relation to some of the key outstanding
issues.
"The Programme for Government Committee should meet
urgently. There should be no more unnecessary delays.
November 24th has been set by the governments for a meeting
of the Assembly to nominate the First Minister and Deputy
First Minister. We look forward to this happening." ENDS
----
Full text of motion passed by Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle
"The Ard Chomhairle notes the report on its consultation
process and on recent discussions between the party
negotiation team and the two governments.
This includes the concerns raised, the progress made and
the work still ongoing.
We believe that the process set out at St. Andrews has the
potential to deliver the full implementation of the Good
Friday Agreement and to bring about the restoration of the
power-sharing and all-Ireland political institutions.
However, there are elements in the document set out by the
two governments, which require further work to keep them in
line with the Good Friday Agreement.
There are ongoing negotiations in relation to a number of
core issues which have yet to be resolved.
Subject to delivery of these issues the commitments set out
in the governments‚ St. Andrews statement could represent a
way forward. The Ard Chomhairle mandates the party
President and national Officer Board to pursue all of this
and to report back to the Ard Chomhairle.
We reiterate our view that the issue of policing and
justice is a matter for the two governments and all the
political parties. Issues to be agreed include a timeframe
for the transfer of powers and a model for the department
on policing and justice.
Sinn Fein is committed to bring an end to decades of
repressive and sectarian policing.
We reject any role for MI5 in Ireland or in civic policing.
We want to see democratically accountable civic policing
and we will continue to work until we achieve this."
----
To Subscribe to Irish Aires Google News List, click Here.
To Unsub from Irish Aires Google News List, click Here
For options visit: http://groups.google.com/group/IrishAiresNews
Or get full news from Irish Aires Yahoo Group, Click here
To Get RSS Feed for Irish Aires News click HERE
(Paste http://irishaires.blogspot.com/atom.xml into a News Reader)
To November Index
To Index of Monthly Archives
