Republican News · Thursday 10 October 2002

Sinn Féin tables Dáil motion on crisis

"Anti-Agreement wreckers must not succeed" - Ó Caoláin

Sinn Féin TDs have tabled a Dáil motion on the current crisis in the peace process. They are seeking a special debate this week as the political institutions established under the Agreement face collapse. The party's Dáil leader, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, said:

"The events of the past few days are the working out of the Wreckers' Charter adopted by the Ulster Unionist Council on 21 September. Anti-Agreement unionists are now clearly in the ascendant and the raid on the office of our party colleagues in Stormont was part of the effort to blame Sinn Féin for the collapse of the political institutions.

"The real agenda is not in the spins coming from the RUC/PSNI and widely carried in the media. The real agenda is set out in the UUC motion of 21 September that focuses on rolling back the political changes since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The UUC are opposed to Sinn Féin in government - so are the securocrats in the RUC/PSNI. The UUC are opposed to the establishment of a real policing service - so are the securocrats.

"We are calling for a special Dáil debate and have put down a motion opposing the suspension of the political institutions. I have written to the Taoiseach directly seeking such a debate."

The motion reads:

"That the Dáil reiterates its support for the Good Friday Agreement and the institutions established under it;

Urges all parties to fully support the Agreement and its institutions, based as they are on the principle of inclusivity and respect for all electoral mandates;

Would strongly oppose a suspension of the institutions by the British government;

Calls upon the Irish Government to defend and promote the Agreement and the agenda for real change, reconciliation and lasting peace in Ireland."

Sinn Féin TDs Seán Crowe, Martin Ferris, Arthur Morgan and Aengus Ó Snodaigh will hand in a letter of protest to the British Embassy in Dublin at 10am this morning, following last Friday's politically motivated raid on the party's Stormont offices.

Speaking in Dublin beforehand, Martin Ferris said:

"These actions are clearly part of the anti-Agreement agenda set out by David Trimble and the UUP two weeks ago when they outlined their plans to bring down the political institutions and try and halt the process of change. The wrecking of the institutions is the common position of the DUP and the UUP.

"Sinn Féin is calling on all parties and the two governments to fully support the Agreement and its institutions, based as they are on the principle of inclusivity and respect for all electoral mandates."