MEP supports inclusive talks
Blaney in call to Ahern
A rally for inclusive talks held in Monaghan town on
Saturday 28 February was addressed by a broad platform
of speakers which included Green Party MEP for Dublin
Patricia McKenna, Women's Coalition member Brenda
Callaghan, Independent Fianna Fáil TD Harry Blaney and
Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin.
Patricia McKenna told the crowd gathered at the Church
Square, Monaghan, that all parties involved in the
problem should be part of its solution. The process
should not just be for political parties - there was a
role for community groups and the voluntary sector, who
could be involved in a process that could run parallel
to the political talks. She believed that ``a
mountain-top secret meeting'' which would exclude the
electorate would be very dangerous.
Harry Blaney pointed out that he had opposed the
exclusion of Sinn Féin from the talks and was present
at the invitation of Caoimhghín O Caoláin to extend his
support for the rights of those who voted for Sinn
Féin. On the exclusion issue he said:
``I had requested the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to make
sure Sinn Féin weren't put out of the talks and I will
be talking to him again to see that he ensures that the
party is readmitted regardless of the situation.''
Equality for all traditions and human rights for every
individual - this was the platform of the Women's
Coalition. So said Brenda Callaghan who reiterated the
Coalition's opposition to the exclusion of Sinn Féin.
She said that Tony Blair should agree to meet Sinn
Féin.
Brenda Callaghan said Sinn Féin was ``duty bound'' to go
back to the talks to represent their electorate. She
called on the unionists to engage in the type of
negotiations that would point the way forward. She said
that some form of assembly would come about but there
needed to be cross-border bodies with executive powers
and ``the Women's Coalition will not enter another
Stormont''.
Caoimhghín O Caoláin said his party's options were open
as to whether they would return to the talks on 9
March. ``The key question is whether there are real
negotiations to return to'' he said.
On the granting of a retrial to Lee Clegg he said:
``This British soldier was the only one jailed in
connection with the conflict to have been released
early by the British government in four years of the
peace process. The favourable treatment of his case,
and the anguish that has been caused to the family of
Karen Reilly, show up the double standards of the
British government, with one law for the crown forces
and another for everyone else.''
Deputy O Caoláin described nationalist confidence in
the Blair government as at its lowest ebb since `New
Labour' came to power:
``Irrespective of whether or not Sinn Féin returns to
talks on 9 March, unless there is real progress on
demilitarisation, prisoners and equality issues,
nationalists and republicans will see no merit in the
current fruitless negotiations. The British government
could move on all these issues without the need for
reference to the multi-party talks, but it has refused
to do so.''
Despite the setbacks O Caoláin said hope was still
alive:
``The biggest continuing source of hope and confidence
is the goodwill across wide sections of political
opinion, reflecting widespread popular support for real
change coming out of real negotiations. Sinn Féin will
fulfil its commitment to work tirelessly, with others,
for the prize of lasting peace.''
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