Our vision is of a new Ireland
Opening speech by Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghin O Caoláin in Leinster
House
Glacaim an suíochán sa chomhdháil seo inniu go bródúil mar
theachta ó mhuintir an Chabháin agus Mhuineacháin agus is ar a
son agus ar son mo pháirtí Sinn Féin atáim anseo mar ionadaí. Is
stairiúil an lá é dár bpáirtí. Is stairiúil freisin an ócáid í
don chomhdháil seo.
Is páirtí poblachtach é Sinn Féin agus i bhfocail Fhorógra na
Poblachta 1916 ``dearbhaimíd gur ceart ceannasach do-chlóite ceart
mhuintir na hEireann chun tír na hEireann, agus fós chun dála na
hEireann a stiúradh gan chosc gan toirmeasc''. Níl an cheannasacht
iomlán fós ag muintir na hEireann agus is é bunchospóir mo
pháirtí an Phoblacht uile-Eireannach a chur ar bun.
Tagaim anseo mar ionadaí ó cheantar atá imeallach le fada an lá
mar gheall ar críchdheighilt ár dtíre agus mar gheall ar
neamhaird ag rialtas i ndiaidh rialtais sa stát seo. Mar theachta
beidh sé mar bhun-aidhm agam deireadh a chur leis an neamhaird
sin agus mo cheantar a chur ar ais i lár pholaitíocht na tíre
seo.
I am honoured to stand here today as a deputy for the people of
Cavan and Monaghan and as a representative of Sinn Féin, the
party of which I am proud to be a member. I represent an
all-Ireland party that enjoys a significant mandate in both parts
of our divided island, and I welcome the presence here today of
my colleagues Gerry Adams MP for West Belfast and Martin
McGuinness MP for Mid-Ulster. I look forward to the day when I
will join them and all the others elected by the Irish people as
a whole in a national parliament for the 32 Counties.
In the recent election voters were offered a choice between two
sets of coalition partners with virtually identical social and
economic policies. From the composition of the House today it is
obvious that the electorate resented being forced to make such a
choice. This reality is reflected in the growing strength of the
smaller parties and independents.
In the general election Sinn Féin stood as a party for change.
Our vision is of a new Ireland, a people united in shared
prosperity. We note the failure of successive administrations in
this state to fulfil the aim of the Democratic Programme of the
First Dáil Eireann which declared ``the right of every citizen to
an adequate share of the produce of the Nation's labour''. This
ongoing failure is evident in every town and village in Ireland
and can be seen in high level of long-term unemployment, rural
decline and a growing drugs crisis.
Promoting the interests of my constituents in Cavan and Monaghan,
and advancing the case for a fairer social and economic order
based on equality - these will be my priorities during the course
of the term before us.
The partition of our country and Britain's occupation of the six
north eastern counties is the single greatest problem facing us
as a people today. The most important task for us all is to
rebuild the peace process. This must include the full recognition
of Sinn Féin's electoral mandate by both governments. The way to
lasting peace is through inclusive negotiations leading to
political and constitutional change. The intense and positive
engagement of the new government and of all the representatives
in this House will be needed to bring that historic change about.
On the vote for Taoiseach therefore Sinn Féin's priority is the
rebuilding of the peace process. Accordingly I will be casting my
vote for Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach. I am doing so solely on the
basis of his and his party's positive disposition towards a
genuine and inclusive process.
I look forward to working with the new government and with others
in this House in the achievement of a lasting peace with justice
for all the people of Ireland.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)