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2022 New Year statement from the
leadership of Sinn Féin Poblachtach
BEANNACHTAÍ do gach baill de Shinn Féin agus don
ár lucht tacaíochta ar fud na tíre agus thar lear. Beannachtaí
freisin don ár gcomrádaithe sa bhearna bhaoill go mbéadh rath ar a
gcuid oibre. Cuimhnimid ar gach éinne thuas luaithe atá tinn faoi
láthair. Is é ár guí go mbéadh said ar fónamh ar baill.
Early in 1922 the Treaty of Surrender was signed
and then pushed through Dáil Éireann by senior members of the
Republican government and the IRB, aided by those whom James
Connolly called “the men of property”, i.e., vested interests such
as big business and the Catholic Church.
One hundred years later Ireland is still
suffering the consequences of that sell-out; the country is still
partitioned, and part of our country continues to be subjected to
British rule. Sinn Féin Poblachtach pledges to continue to fight to
end the British presence in Ireland and to bring about a new Ireland
where the Irish people, acting as a unit, can decide their future.
In the last few years there has been a great deal
of speculation and talk about ending partition and establishing a
united Ireland. To quote James Connolly: “If you remove the English
army tomorrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless
you set about the organisation of the Socialist Republic your
efforts will be in vain. England will still rule you. She would rule
you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her
financiers, through the whole array of commercial and individualist
institutions she has planted in this country and watered with the
tears of our mothers and the blood of our martyrs.”
We have seen the truth of his statement in the
100 years since the British physically left the 26 Counties. A
united Ireland with all the old protagonists along with the
Provisionals and the unionists will not bring about a new Ireland
where all the people decide the future.
Meanwhile Six Counties of Ulster are still under
British control. The so-called “new” police force, the PSNI, has not
changed and continues to oppress the nationalist people. A paper
published by the Ulster University Policy Centre in 2016 concluded
that the RUC/PSNI is the most expensive police force in Britain and
the 26 Counties on a per capita basis by a significant margin.
Stop and search, raids, confiscations of goods
and trumped-up charges are the order of the day for the
Republican/nationalist people. The Provisionals, who are part of the
Stormont Executive, uphold these acts by the British on their own
people. It seems they have no bottom line where collaboration with
the enemy is concerned.
The paper also concluded that the most
significant cost area in the Occupied Six Counties is linked to
policing and justice, accounting for over half the estimated
additional cost.
It was announced on November 14, 2021 that a bid
by Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon Borough had been successful
in being selected as one of eight cities invited to submit a bid to
become the “UK” City of Culture in 2025.
Armagh city is not part of the so-called “United
Kingdom”. It is an Irish city with a history going back into
prehistory. The abbey of Armagh was one of the most important in
Ireland, associated with learning and culture and with St Patrick
from the early days of Christianity. It has never been a British
city and the current move to make it a “UK city of culture” is yet
another attempt to normalize British rule in Ireland, which Sinn
Féin Poblachtach categorically rejects.
2021 was another very difficult year for all due
to COVID-19. Unfortunately, the virus is still very active and again
many people are suffering illness. We take this opportunity to thank
all those involved in the essential services who have taken so many
risks in the last years, especially those involved in healthcare.
Homeless support services have again been
drastically reduced. We commend all those who went out to support
those in need, in particular the Éire Nua Food Initiative set up by
Sinn Féin Poblachtach which has worked tirelessly along with other
volunteers throughout the years [since March 2020] feeding and
supplying clothing and other necessities to homeless people.
Sinn Féin Poblachtach remembers our patriot dead
across Ireland. Wreath-laying ceremonies were held when it was not
possible to hold the usual commemorations. We salute all who
organized and attended these events while keeping the safety of our
members and the general public in mind.
In 2022 Sinn Féin will ensure that those who gave
their lives for the All-Ireland Republic will be fittingly
remembered. In the coming year Sinn Féin Poblachtach will continue
to commemorate the deeds of the revolutionary generation of a
century ago with pride and without apology.
This year also Sinn Féin Poblachtach will update
our Social & Economic programme Saol Nua. Along with Éire Nua it
will provide a blueprint where all the Irish people can come
together to create a new Ireland where all sections of our people
can work together.
Ar aghaidh linn go dtí Éire Nua. Ní neart go chur
le chéile.
An Phoblacht Abú. |
