Republican News · Thursday 13 February 1997

[An Phoblacht]

A vision in focus

SF discussion document put under the microscope

I like to think of Sinn Féin not just as a party of protest but as a party of power

Sinn Féin councillor Mairtín O Muilleoir

How many ard fheiseanna have you been to where delegates stream to the podium to ask the perennial question, ``whatever happened the review promised at the previous ard fheis of current party policy?''

Last weekend Sinn Féin took the latest in a series of positive steps towards redressing that imbalance in developing, debating and formulating party policy. The topic this time was the role of the community in economic development, which is the theme of Sinn Féin's new disscusion document, Putting People First.

Monaghan Town was the setting for the one day conference with a morning internal session where party members dissected the new document. In the afternoon party members heard the views of Avila Kilmurray, director of the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust and Combat Poverty Agency director Hugh Frazer on Putting People First. There were apologies from Ulster Bank chairperson George Quigley who had wished to attend.

The aim of the internal part of the day's conference was to set formally in place a practice of policy development which Sinn Féin has never had before and to make the process as democratic and participatory as possible. Activists had an opportunity outside of an ard fheis format to discuss policy development and more importantly have an input into policy development.

The morning's debate was lively with both praise and constructive criticism of the document. Belfast City Councillor Máirtín O Muilleoir described it as one of the most difficult issues to tackle. He told the conference, ``I like to think of Sinn Féin not just as a party of protest but as a party of power'' and that we should think of Putting People First as ``a starting point''. Clones UDC councillor Pat Treanor wanted the party to develop the concept of community banking while Bairbre De Brún raised education issues.

Ard Chomhairle member, Councillor Caoimhghín O Caoileáin, opened the afternoon session of the conference. O Caoileáin welcomed the afternoon's speakers. He emphasised that the document ``presents in some detail Sinn Féin's economic and social objectives and the underlying philosophy which drives our thinking''.

Addressing the speakers and other invited groups O Caoileáin said, ``There are many people here today from many different backgrounds and representing diverse interests. I realise that many of you will not agree with much of what Sinn Féin stands for and our republican objectives. However, I think the last few years have shown that we share much common ground''.

O Caoileáin also promised that ``Sinn Féin does not view Putting People First as yet another set of policy principles and proposals that merely sit on bookshelves of republican activists and representatives, but one that can and will act as the basis for effective local community activity''.

Avila Kilmurray, director of the NIVT told the conference that she viewed Putting People First as an ``advocacy document'' rather than policy. She asked what did we mean by ``Putting People First'', emphasising that you can only empower through experience of concrete action rather than theory. She said she found the language of the document ``jargonised'' and asked how does the emphasis on the social economy sit with the socialist views that seem to underpin the document. Can it deliver our objectives? She also felt that the document overplayed the effects of British imperialism.

Combat Poverty Director Hugh Frazer told the conference that the topic is ``extraordinarily important'' and that major social and economic change such as is envisaged in Putting People First is a hard thing to achieve.

Frazer welcomed the discussion and said he had ``learnt by reading the document'' and that ``it raised important issues'', but countered this by saying that ``the use of violence...is a fundamental hindrance to adressing the deep-seated problem of poverty and social exclusion''.

He felt that the document was ``primarily orientated'' to the Six Counties and not enough on the 26 Counties. Frazer though did emphasise that ``the greatest challenge we face....as we approach the 21st century is to build a more inclusive and fair society''.

This was taken up by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams who closed the conference saying that ``the Irish are not a selfish people. Citizens want economic planning which improves the quality of life for all, instead of perpetuating a golden elite'' and that ``we recognise the absolute imperative of bringing about economic and social change within our society''

``For our part we have a vision for a future which sees local communities having a central role in creating a new Ireland. Our document and this conference have helped focus on these issues.

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