Ard Fheis 2008

[Kerrygold]

The most interesting thing about Adams' speech was that in listing what could be done to make it better, he seemed to indicate that SF would consider supporting a future treaty under the right circumstances. Do a Green Party on it, so to speak.

Really, you found that to be the most interesting thing?

[DOD]

The most interesting thing about Adams' speech was that in listing what could be done to make it better, he seemed to indicate that SF would consider supporting a future treaty under the right circumstances. Do a Green Party on it, so to speak.

Really, you found that to be the most interesting thing?

Pretty much, as in it was what stood out. I'm not saying SF would change it's stance on EU treaties, but the suggestion that there are criteria under which it might, was surely significant. The rest of it was bog-standard leadership speech stuff. I'm not just saying that because it's Gerry, it's just that generally, leadership speeches, unless something significant is about to happen, are quite dis-interesting to most people. To be fair to Gerry though, this was the first year when he didn't really have anything significant to address, concerning the peace process.

[Zyklon B]

I've a question from Cain if he'd care to answer it.

As I recall some years ago on this Site I asked you what SF's strategy/policies on Immigration were and IIRC you said that a reveiw of your programme was slated for 2008.

I didn't keep track of our discussions in such detail but it sounds very plausible that I said that. And no, there is no immigration policy document before us.

We have a small policy development team and a cumbersome but very open policy development process. It takes a long time to get the document together and unfortunately it's not ready. I don't work for SF anymore so I couldn't tell you where it's at but if I told you it was going to be ready in 2008 it's because I thought it would be.

Utter b*llox. Any query regarding Sinn Féin's ambiguous and contradictory immigration and asylum policy was met by claims (from you) that a document explaining precisely these things would be available by now. When you consider the extent to which Shinners are always going on about foreigners, asylum-seekers and their supposed ill-treatment, it beggars belief such a policy position paper isn't available. Unless it isn't coming at all, or perhaps was intended for well after the General Election. Perhaps it's a divisive issue in Sinn Féin?

As for your explanation for our 'poor vote', it still doesn't stand up. We had our best election in decades in 2004 while simeltaneously fighting a referendum to protect the rights of children born in this country to citizenship. I canvassed enough doors to meet Sinn Féin voters who disagreed with us on that but were still voting for us.

People voted for Sinn Féin in the local election because the of their work on the ground locally. The referendum was a different issue (one that had the support of most SF voters and probably members incidentally). The General election was different again and besides, it's only now that some of the worst effects of unrestrained immigration are being felt.

I canvassed heavily in this election, and in a constituency with a high immigrant population and for the most part in a section of that constituency with a particularly high immigrant population. I honestly thought it would come up quite a bit, but it was noticeable by its absence and generally people didn't have an objection to immigration, but to immigrants 'getting things' ahead of them. As I've pointed out numerous times before, this is simply setting people against each other.

The reality is that working class people in diasadvantaged areas of Dublin have more in common with immigrants living in their area than they so with people in Kinsealy who can trace their ancestry back to Brian Boru.

*yawn* Tiresome lefty rubbish. The limitless resources argument, something for everyone, all we have to do is raise taxes sky-high. This has worked nowhere.

The simple fact is that, immigration must be regulated and controlled. That means deporting failed asylum-seekers (i.e. economic migrants that fail to meet the requirements of our economy) and withholding the right to work here for workers from anymore accession countries, including Bulgaria and Romania (perhaps even beginning to re-impose restrictions on all new entrants from the new accession states to allow for the downturn in the construction sector). Quotas in our schools for foreigner school children, dispersal policies for foreigners (particularly those intending to remain here long-term). Y'know, the sort of stuff Sinn Féin is incapable of countenancing.