The following is an edited version of Gerry Adams’s speech to the Sinn Féin Ardfheis
A HALF a million citizens unemployed. Social welfare payments cut. Wages cut. Health and Education in crisis. Families facing eviction. Mass emigration back again. Parts of the country under water. In other parts the drinking water is unsafe.
Billions of taxpayers’ money gifted to a dysfunctional, toxic banking system.
Widespread anger, rage even, at the Government parties. And a sense of hopelessness and disbelief.
It would be easy for me to stand up here and to rail against the Government – to become Mr Angry for a half an hour. But that is not enough.
Most people know how bad this Government is. They elected it. Which is why there is such a sense of betrayal. Most people also know that the policies of a Fine Gael-led government would be no different from this one.
The Irish people deserve better.
Everyone who lives on this island has the right to a home; to a safe environment; to access to education and child-care; to civil and religious liberty; and to meaningful work with proper terms and conditions. Everyone has the right to health care.
Everybody has the right to equality, and to respect and dignity.
This is the essence of republicanism. It is the essence of citizenship.
Is any of this reflected in today’s Ireland? The answer to that is no.
Sinn Féin believes in a genuine republic. Not a nominal dictionary republic, but one in which the people are truly sovereign.
The Proclamation of the Republic asserts the need to cherish all the children of the nation equally. It doesn’t say 26 counties of the nation. It speaks of all the nation and all its parts. All 32 counties.
The Proclamation speaks to all the children of the Nation. It doesn’t say – unless you are poor or elderly. Or unless you have autism; or learning difficulties; or disabilities. Or unless you come from a remote rural area. Or from Moyross or Sheriff Street; or Strabane or Ballymena.
The establishment parties, like us, know that republicanism is in many ways the conscience of the Irish people. Little wonder that they wrap themselves in republican rhetoric while avoiding any genuine examination of the real meaning of republicanism.
Which brings us to the hard question. How can society be changed? How can a real republic be achieved? The answer to that starts in the heart. It is a belief in people. That is the starting point. And what starts in the heart has to move to the head. It is not enough to wax lyrical about peoples’ rights.
Caithfidh muid seasamh le chéile.
We have to stand up for these rights.
The people of Ireland have yet to realise our destiny as a nation. We have yet to complete our journey.
Forty years ago, the IRA appeared on the streets of Belfast when republicans joined with the people of Ballymaccarett in the defence of St Matthews chapel and An Trá Ghearr.
That single act of resistance; this stand against the Orange state, marked the beginning of a journey for many activists that has been played out on the streets, in the jails and around the negotiating table.
Imagine what can be achieved now in these more peaceful times with the levelling of the political playing field and in a climate were the phony republicanism of the establishment is being laid bare?
The Irish people needs leaders to ensure that no banker will evict a family from their home. That no farm of land will be sold off over a family’s head. That no worker will be victimised.
We need leaders to ensure that no community will be robbed of its social entitlements.
But let me be clear about this. I am not talking about leaders coming down to us from on high. I am talking about everyone who is prepared to make a stand against corruption, greed and injustice.
When the Celtic Tiger economy was at its height, and when the surplus of wealth was the greatest in the history of this State, the establishment refused to distribute the wealth in the common good and to secure the future.
They would not nationalise the wealth. But now, they are happy to nationalise the debt.
There is talk of a Cabinet reshuffle. This Government doesn’t need a reshuffle. This Government needs to go.
Do they really think the people are amadáns? Do they really expect the people to foot the bill for the bankers, the developers and their political cronies? The people need to send them a message. The people need to tell them to get lost. They need to tell this Government where to put Nama.
Don’t wait until the next election. Make a stand now. Be a leader. Don’t wait for anyone else.
Freedom and justice is possible, if we really want it. And those of us who care about the world; who care about Ireland; those of us who believe in the people of this island – we have no choice but to make a stand, particularly for those citizens who cannot at this time stand up for themselves.
Sinn Féin is opposed to this Government because it’s not fair, and because its policies are unsustainable.
But we are also opposed to them because there is an alternative that will work.
Sinn Féin has proposed a major €3.2 billion stimulus package.
We would establish a jobs retention fund for small and medium businesses.
We would set up a youth jobs fund to create 20,000 jobs.
We would use the public sector to kickstart the economy.
We would include a social clause in public contracts for hiring of a set number of apprentices, young unemployed and long-term unemployed, as has been done in the North by the Sinn Féin Minister for Regional Development, Conor Murphy.
We would reclaim Brand Ireland and introduce an aggressive all-Ireland export strategy.
All of this is possible. Jobs can be protected. Jobs can be created. Frontline public services can be sustained and developed if public finance is raised in a fair way.
This means real social solidarity. It means uniting public and private sector workers, not dividing them.
Among our proposals are:
A third rate of tax for those earning more than €100,000 a year.
A solidarity tax of 1 per cent on all assets worth more than €1 million, excluding farm land. And an end to the hundreds of unfair tax reliefs which this Government refuses to get rid of.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin called it right when he said: “The closer you are to a Minister in the Dublin Government, the less you will suffer.” This Fianna Fáil/Green Party Government has also inflicted deep cuts on the farming sector and on disadvantaged rural areas. Sinn Féin understands the difficulties facing rural communities.
Our TDs and our Senator have produced three major Oireachtas reports. These set out proposals to regenerate the west, to ensure a viable future for fishing and farming communities, and to create more jobs in the agri-food sector.
In the north, Minister for Agriculture, Michelle Gildernew, is tackling the needs of farmers in disadvantaged areas and the needs of rural women.
Ó thaobh an Tuaiscairt de, tá sárobair déanta ag Martin McGuinness agus foireann na gcainteanna Sinn Féin. Bhí an tionól agus na hinstitiúidí uile Éireann i gcontúirt mar gheall ar an DUP.
Ach le díograis agus fócas ár ndaoine, bhí Sinn Féin agus an DUP ábalta teacht ar chomhaontú nua. Rinne muid conradh, agus bhog muid an próiseas iomlán seo ar aghaidh go dtí an chéad chéim eile.
Just over a month ago we concluded an agreement at Hillsborough with the DUP on the way forward.
Many thought this couldn’t happen. But it did. This was a hugely important, and symbolic moment. I want to pay tribute to Martin McGuinness, Gerry Kelly and our other Ministers, as well as to the Sinn Féin negotiating team. Here is proof, if proof was needed, of the importance of negotiations as an area of struggle.
This Agreement is a staging post. It is proof that change is possible.
The last year has been a challenging one for us, for the peace process and for the people of this island.
It has also been a difficult period for my clann. I thank everyone who has expressed solidarity with my family. Colette in particular has asked me to thank all those who sent her “get well” messages.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
I want to congratulate Maurice Quinlivan on his determination to clear his good name.
In the end Willie [O’Dea] tripped over his own moustache, but be assured he would still be in this awful Government if Maurice had not made a stand. Maith an fear Maurice.
Will that be the end of attacks on Sinn Féin? Of course not. The only difference between Willie and the other smearers and backstabbers is that Willie got caught out.
As this Government lurches toward an election, we can expect more of this. But we have a message for the Government and its fellow travellers. Let there be no doubt about this. Given the mandate, Sinn Féin will dismantle the culture of political cronyism and the golden circles.
Everything that Sinn Féin has done is rooted in the equality agenda. That is why some of the big initiatives, particularly on education, have met such resistance.
The opposition to the removal of the 11-plus is mainly class driven, and arises from the desire of a small minority to protect an unequal system. Parents want the best for their children. So do we.
In the next few weeks the Westminster elections will give us the opportunity to strengthen our mandate. Sinn Féin will be making a stand in every constituency in the Six Counties.
If the Northern Assembly runs to its full term, all communities in the North will have benefited from Sinn Féin in government. We are already planning for the next Assembly term.
We want to build on the successes of our Assembly team and set more challenging targets and goals for Sinn Féin in government.
And let me invite the viewers at home to help us write that manifesto for change. Sinn Féin will once again be holding town hall meetings.
We want to be a citizens’ conduit to government. I invite you to come along; to put your issue, your needs, your requirements, on the Executive table.
Unionism? Unionism knows that Sinn Féin is a willing partner in a government that is responsive, effective and delivering. One of the big tasks facing the Executive is to eradicate sectarianism. The vast majority of people want this. There is work for everyone.
But it is up to unionists to demonstrate that unionism and sectarianism are not the same, and that they are as opposed to sectarianism as we are.
Sinn Féin believes that a free, independent and United Ireland makes political and economic sense.
Last year I set out our intention to engage with the Irish diaspora and to marshal its political strength in support of a United Ireland.
Over the last 12 months thousands of people came together in New York, San Francisco, Toronto and London at major conferences to put their weight behind the demand for Irish unity. This campaign is gathering momentum. Now is the time to make partition history. Now is the time to build an Ireland we can be proud of.
Sinn Féin is united and strong. Sinn Féin is looking to the future. Sinn Féin is making a stand.
The British army, the heavy gangs, the old Orange regime and slíbhín governments here could not break us. Censorship, the prisons and the death squads could not break us.
And no amount of black propaganda in the Tony O’Reilly press will break us either.
Twenty years ago, Nelson Mandela, Madiba, the first president of a free South Africa – walked free from prison.
Twenty years ago there was war in Ireland.
So, when someone tells you that apartheid would never end; or that peace is not possible; or that a United Ireland is ‘pie in the sky’; or that we can’t make a deal with the DUP; or that we can’t beat this recession; don’t believe them – not for one second. Believe in yourself.
Make a stand. Make it happen. Join us.