Spotlight turns to DUP as Ard Fheis motion passes with ease
The rocky road to Dublin was travelled by more than 3,000 republican activists today as the date of the Extraordinary Ard Fheis on Policing and Justice finally arrived. In the end, the ease with which the Ard Fheis motion was passed today (between 90%-95% of the delegates voted in favour) was a remarkable endorsement of the Sinn Fein leadership, coming as it did after seven hours of contributions from delegates. During his rousing speech, Martin McGuinness returned to a theme he employed earlier in the week when he remarked that, though January 28th 2007 would be a significant date for Irish republicans, Monday January 29th would be an even more challenging date for the DUP as its time to put up on the issue of Power-sharing would finally arrive. I was amongst those arriving late to the RDS, wrongly expecting the event to run according to the traditionally tardy ‘republican time.’ I missed Gerry Adams’ arrival to the building, instead being informed by Radio Ulster when just outside the capital that a number of party opponents had heckled both Adams and McGuinness.
I did notice Willie Frazer standing on the lawn outside the RDS building hosting the Ard Fheis, and wondered as I passed would Willie be protesting outside a similar DUP meeting in the weeks ahead.
The introductory speeches by leadership figures were impressive, with each obviously conscious of the need to use this occasion to reassure the assembled grassroots activists that the path being charted was correct.
Having attended a number of the public meetings and party briefings on this issue, I didn’t expect to hear anything new in the many speeches, and in this sense I was not surprised. Gerry Kelly charted the history of the policing negotiations since Patten, whilst Gerry Adams sought to contextualise this issue in the development of the republican struggle, reassuring the party faithful. But it was Martin McGuiness’ impassioned speech which caught the mood of the thousands of party activists.
McGuiness launched a full frontal assault on the SDLP and dissident republicans, whilst being careful to distinguish republicans genuinely hurting over this development from the latter group, who he quipped hadn’t managed to even fight the British to a ‘start’ never mind a ‘stalemate.’
But it was in his outlining of the nature of the envisaged republican engagement with the PSNI that he drew sustained applause. He stated that republicans needed to confidently assert their position within DPPs, the Policing Board and the Executive (through OFM/DFM) to critically engage with the PSNI from a position of authority. He continued by claiming that it was up to the latter to gain the trust and confidence of the nationalist and republican community.
This issue was never going to be an easy one for republicans, and the numerous impassioned speeches in favour and opposing the motion illustrated the depth of feeling on this critical matter. But it was clear from very early in the day that the level of opposition to the Ard Comhairle motion was minimal, with Ogra delegates providing the liveliest speeches from a dissenting stance- contributions well received by the audience.
The level of opposition to the motion within the hall might have been minimal, but that probably doesn’t provide an accurate reflection of republican activist sentiment on this matter. As in the past, the party leadership has put considerable effort into bringing the grassroot opinion along during each critical stage of the peace process, and this proved no different. The level of engagement within the party within the past fortnight at all levels undoubtedly calmed many nerves and ‘won round’ many whose initial reactions were less positive.
In the past few weeks, it quickly became clear to most republicans that this was an argument that was being fought between the head and the heart- another theme alluded to by McGuiness in today’s speech. Whilst the media have been quick to pick up on the pronouncements of a small number of dissident/ disaffected figures, the reality was that the overwhelming number of republican activists saw this particular train coming down the track a long time ago and prepared themselves for it. The failure of the dissidents to articulate any plausible alternative to the stance being proposed by Sinn Fein leaders meant that they were always fighting a losing battle when attempting to battle for the minds of republicans.
Another crucial dimension not picked up by many was that republicans were confident that this development would not adversely impact on the party’s electoral fortunes in the impending Assembly election. Sinn Fein activists have maintained a constant presence on the doorsteps of the electorate from last Autumn right through to early January due to the party’s annual electoral registration drive. And through that constant engagement, the message from the nationalist/ republican electorate- as opposed to republican activist base- was a quite resounding endorsement of the Sinn Fein leadership’s proposals.
In the end, probably the most striking message was struck by the party’s Declan Kearney when, during his robustly delivered speech, he noted “dogma doesn’t win struggles.” The theme of the need to ‘grow political strength’ was a constant, underwriting virtually every contribution from those supporting the motion: a reflection of the pragmatic realisation by republicans at a leadership and grassroot level of the task ahead on the path to Irish unity.
MaryLou should do something about that horrible double chin and Goofy smile. Might cost votes.
i think it perfectly clear that Sinn fein has not promissed anything but to toe the line if the DuP do nows its up to little ian and the rest of sheep to come to the fight. Some how I dont think they have the stones to let it hang out so they will obfuscate, prevericate and remonstrate and their will be Plan B not devolution
And the Sinn Fein win by omision
jesus
the best post award goes to
“When is THE FELONS gonna be changed to THE PEELERS”
excellant
MaryLou should do something about that horrible double chin and Goofy smile. Might cost votes.
Posted by Jim Kemmy on Jan 29, 2007 @ 03:23 AM
so that is why LondonGerry is winking at the cameraman?
FUNNY!!!!!!!
I had to laugh at Adams and McGuinness slamming the SDLP about policing.
It’s even funnier when they have a former RUC man in their party now in East Derry. Hypocrisy at its best!!!!!!!!
Red Mist: I have always worked. I have always been unable to find that section of my tax form where I can tick that I am an Irish Republican and would prefer my tax contributions not to go to the british exchequer.
It’s not a political survey. But Q9 on the self assessment form offers you the chance to say you aren’t using the infrastructure, so you have a moral and legal case for not paying the tax.
I note some comments about the lovely the picture of Gerry & ‘Say Hello’ Mary Lou.
I think there is some significance in that image.
Gerry’s tie was particularly fetching and Mary Lou, well whoever co-ordinated the jewellery with her outfit oh they deserved a medal……
Bowled over though Pat Doherty was looking a bit scruffy later. Clearly the urban types have much to teach the yokels. Now where’s my Duinne’s shirt & tie combination pack………
Anyone know who actually made a speech opposing the motion?
Did anyone see Gerry Kelly getting heckled on News 24? I actually thought he was going to thump the guy – to be fair I would have cheered if he had – he (the heckler) sounded like a Ruari O’Braidaigh wannabe!
PS. Where’s Ciaran Damery, I would like to hear his take on this! LOL!
Now we have the after conference euphoria, mutual pats on back, photo opportunities and all that. A step towards normality, long overdue.
Somewhere along the line the Unionists will insist on implementation and eventually there is going to be cases against former colleagues. There are some hard times ahead and it will be interesting to see how SF responds. This could all turn very sour (from a SF perspective).
It will also be interesting to see if Republicans stand against SF and just how well they do.
Is the McGuinness speech avialble in full anywhere? i would like to read the bit where our future Deputy First Minister boasts about ‘taking the war’ to the Brits. how many did the IRAS take war to…..1,700+?
hope it was worth all those lives.
Question for SF supporters now you’ve fnially passed the motion. (like you werwen’t not gonig to pass the motion you big kidders)
When (if) SF signs up to policing boards are we going to witness a justice revolution? SF always bash the SDLP with “what have you achieved the past x years on the polciing boards” Well that same citicism can now be levelled on Sf if they do not perform.
But seen as SF are wonderful at eveything they do I’m sure they’ll make a big impact. The question then becomes why didn’t the join earlier?
Either the useless a la SDLP, or they’ve just wasted everyone time for the past few years.
So much speculation. Only time will tell if this will move NI to a transitional state before a United Ireland, or whether it is a certain kind of cementing of the Union, or indeed a long-term evolution of Northern Ireland into a province somewhat apart, a bit more comfortable with itself, with its own unique flavour (I would not go as far as to say identity), but noticeably distinct from the Republic and Great Britain, and within the Union for the long term.
The ominious signs are there however for the new devolved NI governance: the motion to debate the RUC collusion allegations, an issue of some importance for all one would think, was defeated by the combined Unionists and that will probably be the sectarian, tribal veto-style politics there for the long-term
One can not help noticing that the majority of begrudgers and nay-sayers are posting on here from the safety of their principled ‘ivory tower’ of political purity…Surely its obvious that Sinn Féin have grasped the nettle and fair play to them for doing it. The dissident groupings and their cyber warrior hordes ( nearly all sock puppets- yes it is possible to trace the ISP’s lads) are working overtime here and elsewhere to detract from what is widely regarded in nationalist communities as inevitable. As Bradley said on RTE1 this morning the communities are if anything ‘ahead’ of SF’s political decision,a feeling I would suggest is probably correct in most areas. I do not think that any major influx to the RSF/32 dinosaurs is remotely likely. They will simply continue to bore everyone with their whinging whilst despite their moaning the world moves on, well done to Sinn Féin for keeping in touch with the feeling on the street…Something the micro-groups have failed to do, they now increasingly resemble the various Trot paper sellers that infest most British city centres on a Saturday, ie completely ignored by the majority of ordinary folk they purport to represent.
ballymena aronak,
Civil rights.
Reader,
Red Mist: I have always worked. I have always been unable to find that section of my tax form where I can tick that I am an Irish Republican and would prefer my tax contributions not to go to the british exchequer.
It’s not a political survey. But Q9 on the self assessment form offers you the chance to say you aren’t using the infrastructure, so you have a moral and legal case for not paying the tax.
Posted by Reader on Jan 29, 2007 @ 09:09 AM
I would love to know how you would win or even argue that case. I don’t use the street lights, or the roads, or the footpaths…time to get real folks.