Taoiseach challenged on SF exclusion
by Micheal Mac Donncha
Bertie Ahern was urged in Leinster House to
``disassociate himself from this charade and stand up
for the rights of Irish citizens for whom he is
responsible and who are today being put beyond the
pale''.
The call came from Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin
who hit out at the ``fraudulent indictment'' of his party
which was proceeding at Dublin Castle on Tuesday.
During Taoiseach's Questions on Tuesday afternoon Ahern
was cleary sensitive to the accusation that the
information on which the indictment of Sinn Fein was
based came from Ronnie Flanagan and he sought to
distance himself from the RUC. He said he had recieved
the opinion of the Gardai and the British Prime
Minister Tony Blair. Both of these of course recieved
their information from the RUC.
To his credit the only TD in a largely empty house who
spoke against the exclusion of Sinn Fein was Socialist
Party member for Dublin West Joe Higgins. Independent
Jackie-Healy Rae had also opposed the move when he
appeared on RTE's Questions and Answers on Monday.
Caoimhghin O Caolain rose to defend his party in the
most robust exchange of the day:
Caoimhghin O Caolain: The Taoiseach referred to ``a case
to answer''. There is a case to answer, but by whom?
There was also reference to objectivity. There is very
little objectivity, scientific or otherwise, in this
matter. I assure the Taoiseach and members that as an
elected Sinn Fein member I am here to represent the
people of Cavan and Monaghan, with the support of
11,531 votes, a mandate equalled by only a handful of
other members. I intend to stand here for peace and
justice in solidarity with my elected colleagues who
today are fighting a fraudulent indictment that has
been laid against us at Dublin Castle. Will the
Taoiseach disassociate himself from this charade and
stand up for the rights of those Irish citizens for
whom he is responsible and who are today being put
beyond the pale? Will he agree to a special debate
today on the crisis in the peace process? I urge
agreement from all sides on this matter.
The Taoiseach: The answer to the first part of the
Deputy's question is the IRA. In regard to the second
part, a process is taking place elsewhere to which all
parties in this House - including I think the Deputy's
party - subscribed. I am pleased to hear him express
what a number of his negotiators have said to me in
recent days, that they are prepared to see the process
worked through. Part of the process is that certain
rules have to be worked through and I hope all that
will happen in the next few months.
Caoimhghin O Caolain: When the Taoiseach talks about
working within specific rules will he recognise that
one of the fundamental rules is the basis of evidence
in relation to any charge against any group within the
talks process? Is it the case that no such evidence has
been produced against Sinn Fein, an independent
political party with a mandate throughout the length
and breadth of the island and which has played a
constructive and courageous role in the formation and
work of this process to date?
The Taoiseach: I have not seen any evidence brought
against Sinn Fein but the deputy will understand how
the rules and the system operates. Due process must
take place. I hope his representatives will have an
opportunity today to state their case and their views
before any decision is made.
The Sinn Fein TD later described as ``highly
significant'' the Taoiseach admission that there was no
evidence against Sinn Fein and said the government had
``no credible alternative'' now but to disassociate
itself from the attempted exclusion.
Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin addressing SF's
elected representatives outside Dublin Castle on
Tuesday during their protest against SF's attempted
exclusion from the talks.
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