Republican News · Thursday 13 March 2003

Dublin selects MacDonald for Europe

"This time last May I predicted that the story of the General Election was going to be Sinn Féin, and I'm predicting now that the story of the EU election is going to be Sinn Féin again."

With these words, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, opened the Dublin EU selection convention in Wynn's Hotel on Saturday 8 March. Chaired by Daithí Doolan, the convention saw Mary Lou MacDonald, Sinn Féin representative for Dublin West, and Mark Daly, Sinn Féin councillor in Dublin Southwest, contest the nomination for next year's EU election.

On a day traditionally considered a day for celebrating women's struggle for equality, Mary Lou MacDonald showed herself more than equal to the task of being the next EU candidate. As she took to the podium to deliver her nomination speech, she mentioned the fact that it was International Women's Day and joked about it being only right that she be allowed to go first.

She began by saying that although the identity of the candidate was important, what really mattered was that Sinn Féin seized this opportunity to have a voice in Europe.

"We are contesting this election to win this seat and the political momentum is behind us. We won't be taking this seat just for the sake of it. I'm putting myself forward because I see this as offering a huge arena to bring about change."

Mary Lou added that people who criticise the EU are usually dismissed as anti-EU, cranks and pessimists.

"People want to question the EU and I think this was made very evident when large numbers came out and voted against the Nice Treaty on both occasions. Our politics is the politics of change, and we will be working for change in Europe."

Adams noted in his speech that the Dublin members had managed, through hard work and dedication, to get 40,000 voters out for Sinn Féin in the general elections, and expressed his belief that they could do even better in the EU election.

"We are going out to do the same thing again, and this time we won't be worrying about the votes we didn't get. We are going to give the people of this city a socialist and republican voice in Europe."

The party leader also spoke of how people throughout the country were beginning to realise how much independence and sovereignty Ireland has lost since joining the EU.

He gave an example of how Sinn Féin's proposal to raise taxes on banks (in light of AIB's declaration that they made §1.4 billion profit last year) is disallowed under EU law. He also told those present that the new constitution being drafted by the EU would take precedence over the de Valera 1937 Constitution.

"We have seen the limited independence achieved in this country diluted by Brussels," he said. "Homelessness is growing, children are in schools that are recognised as condemned buildings and there are still glaring inequalities in the capital city of a state that continues to have a growing economy.

"Many years ago, James Connolly wrote an article about Home Rule, entitled 'What is a Free Nation?' and he proved that Home Rule wouldn't give the Irish people freedom or independence," Adams said.

"We are being offered a form of home rule from Brussels. This party is going to stand up in Europe and prove that it is not just a party of narrow nationalism. We will show that we are there to fight against injustice and inequality and we will present our vision of the role that Ireland can play on the international stage."

After the votes had been cast, and Mary Lou was selected as the candidate, she thanked those present for expressing such confidence in her. Mark Daly congratulated Mary Lou and asked the Dublin membership to throw their full weight behind the new candidate.

"We have the potential to take this city,"Mary Lou concluded. "I will be giving 100% to this task, and I know that with Dublin Sinn Féin behind me, we can be successful."