Toiréasa Ferris Blog

I spent the weekend at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis at the RDS. There was a real buzz among the 1,000 delegates and supporters who attended. If the spirit at the Ard Fheis is any indication, the omens are good for the June elections. Gerry Adam's address was excellent - slating the bankers and golden circles who have brought this country to its knees, and calling for an alliance of the left and a new patriotism and sense of common purpose to take us forward. If you didn't see the live broadcast, check it out on youtube!

Particularly impressive were the number of young, articulate candidates going forward at the next election. People like Tomás Sharkey and Kathleen Funchion, the EU candidates in Leinster, Matt Carty from Monaghan, David Cullinane from Waterford, Rachel McCarthy from West Cork and Pearse Doherty from Donegal. I honestly don't think any other party could field such a team of young, capable representatives, and it gives me great confidence in the future of Sinn Féin. 

It was also great - given the "macho" image republicanism still has in some quarters - to see the number of women candidates, and particularly to see Mary Lou McDonald MEP elected Sinn Fein's Vice-President.

There were some interesting motions on the clár. I learned what "foix gras" was - a paté made from the livers of geese who have been force-fed - as a result of an Ógra Ath Cliath motion calling for a ban on its sale in Ireland. Barry McElduff was hilarious, as usual, calling for the PSNI to wear Easter lilies as well as poppies in the cause of "parity of esteem".

But the serious business of the Ard Fheis was to grapple with the economic crisis facing the country. We all know who got us into this mess - the golden circle, or poison cocktail, of Fianna Failers, bankers, and developers. But the question people want answered is "how do we turn things around"?  Well, not by cutting public servants' pay - which takes more money out of the economy - mortgaging our children's future through cutbacks in education while targeting the least well off! What is needed is strong leadership and a clear plan. Central to that plan needs to be sorting out the banks, targeted investment in areas that will bring the greatest economic return, reform of the taxation system to make sure everyone pays their fair share, and protecting the most vulnerable in our society.

Over the next few weeks, Sinn Fein will be rolling out a number of detailed policy papers putting forward our alternative approach to the economy. Watch this space!