Republican News · Thursday 20 February 2003

Let the people decide

Sinn Féin's first Bill in Leinster House is an important staging post in the development of the party. Such was the importance of the neutrality issue that the party used rare private members' time to present the 27th Amendment to the Constitution Bill that would enshrine neutrality in the 26-County constitution.

For Sinn Féin, it makes the very clear link between the party's republican politics and the need to let the people decide on this crucial question.

Every Sinn Féin TD spoke and An Phoblacht carries edited versions of their contributions on these pages.

The subject matter ranged from the positive aspects of neutrality to exposing Fianna Fáil double speak and hypocrisy on the issue. There will, it is hoped, be more Sinn Féin contributions to 26-County legislation but on this issue the party has, unlike any other in Leinster House, stood up and established clearly the democratic rights of the Irish people, in this case to a referendum on neutrality.