Republican News · Thursday 16 January 2002

Sinn Féin meets new Irish Labour leadership

A Sinn Féin delegation consisting of party President Gerry Adams , Chairperson Mitchel Mc Laughlin, Caoimghín Ó Caoláin TD and Mary Lou McDonald, met with the new leadership of the Irish Labour Party at Sinn Féin's Falls Road, Belfast, Offices on Monday.

Gerry Adams welcomed the delegation and congratulated leader Pat Rabbitte and deputy leader Liz McManus on their new posts. Brendan Howlin TD and special advisor Fergus Finlay accompanied the Rabbitte and McManus.

In what was described as a useful and positive encounter, the Sinn Féin delegation made it clear that the responsibility to resolve the difficulties in the peace process is a collective one, encompassing not only all of the parties in the Six Counties and the two governments but of all of the parties in the 26 Counties also.

The parties discussed a range of matters, with emphasis on key issues of demilitarisation, policing, equality and human rights. Sinn Féin also raised the ongoing violence of unionist paramilitaries and explained the combined effect that failure to implement the Agreement, lack of commitment to the Agreement by the unionist parties and unionist violence has on republican opinion and room to manoeuvre.

The possibility of future Labour Party delegations visiting interface areas of Belfast and elsewhere to experience at first hand the reality of living in a sectarian state was put by the Sinn Féin representatives.

The Labour Party's support on issues such as the workings of Leinster House, Northern representation and voting rights in Presidential elections for Irish citizens in the Six Counties was also sought. It was pointed out that the benefits of cooperation and pressure from Sinn Féin and Irish Labour in Leinster House would also be very strong when applied to social and economic issues as well as all areas of the Peace Process.

The meeting ended with agreement that it was a useful and positive encounter and that contact would be maintained to explore issues of mutual concern and benefit.