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Irish Unity makes economic and political sense – Adams printable version

24 Apr 2011: posted by the editor - Northern Ireland, Ireland

Speaking at republican commemorations in Drogheda and Dundalk, Sinn Féin President and TD for Louth and East Meath Gerry Adams today: "The Sinn Féin leader said that the leaders of 1916 would be appalled by the policies of this and previous Dublin governments. Never was there greater need for republican politics on this island than today. The republic which was proclaimed in 1916 has been set aside by those in the political establishment, and the limited freedom won after the Rising has been squandered.

"Imagine what James Connolly would say were he to visit the Louth County Hospital or the A&E at Drogheda? What would he say about elderly hospital patients stuck on trolleys for days? What would his response be to the half a million people unemployed across this state? Or to the Universal Social Charge? What would he say about the way working people are being treated while big bankers are paid millions? We can imagine Pearse's response to the sell-off of our natural resources.

"We can say with certainty that the men and women of 1916 would not be part of the golden circle of greedy financiers and developers and corrupt politicians who have practically bankrupted the state.

"In the north, Sinn Fein is fighting hard to secure fiscal powers from London, while in this state this government and its predecessor have given away our economic sovereignty.”

"In their time the leaders of the Rising warned against partition and its divisive and debilitating potential.

"Connolly predicted it would cause a carnival of reaction. He was right. Partition is uneconomic and inhibits Ireland's potential for economic growth. People here in County Louth and in other border counties know this.

"The commemoration of the Rising and the run into the centenary anniversary needs to become a rallying point for Irish citizens to stand up for our rights.

"The usurpation of citizen's rights and the continued power of social and economic elites could not happen in a real republic.

"Apart from the indomitable spirit of the people, and the resilience of communities, there is nothing in this state today which bears any resemblance to the republic proclaimed in 1916.

"The establishment parties—Fine Gael, Fine Fáil, the Labour leadership pay lip service to the republic.

"The new government is only in power for seven weeks but yet already the Labour party leadership that is part of that Fine Gael government has shed what remained of its radical politics.

"And for its part Fine Gael has u-turned on its pledges and is now implementing a Fianna Fáil manifesto.

"They will continue to do this until and unless a real alternative is created."

Gerry Adams said Irish unity "makes political and economic sense" and he said that "an important element of the struggle has to be about persuading unionists that their future and that of their children, lies with the rest of us on this island.

"This won't be easy, but already there is a recognition by the business community of the economic sense of an all-island economy, or joined up health services or agriculture.

"There is a logic to greater and closer co-operation between north and south. So, let us use our collective imagination and our political strength in the first instance to eraze the border. Let us make it irrelevant.

"Let us demonstrate in practical ways, no matter how small, that Irish people organised and working together, can overcome any obstacle, and build a new and better society, based on equality, that works for everyone. And let us do it in our time.

"Our aim is to build Sinn Féin in every community on this island and to make republicanism relevant to people in their daily lives."

Tags: Irish unity, Gerry Adams

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