Labour and SF to mark Dáil's 90th anniversary

THE LABOUR Party and Sinn Féin have announced separate plans to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the first Dáil.

Labour is to hold a special event on Sunday at 2.30pm in Liberty Hall, Dublin. The centrepiece of the event will be a lecture by former Labour Party general secretary Brendan Halligan on the background to the drafting and adoption by the Dáil of the Democratic Programme.

There will also be contributions from Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore TD and the party president Michael D Higgins.

“January 21st, 1919 is a hugely important date in the evolution of the State – the first meeting of the first democratic parliament of the Irish people, elected by universal suffrage,” said Labour Party deputy leader Joan Burton.

“There were no Labour Party TDs in the first Dáil. The party had stood aside in the December 1918 general election, having been told by de Valera that ‘Labour must wait’.

“However, the influence of the Labour Party was very much felt at the first meeting of the Dáil through the adoption of the Democratic Programme. The author of the Democratic Programme was the then leader of the Labour Party Tom Johnson.”

Announcing his party’s plans, the president of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams, said members of the first Dáil would not be impressed with the work of the current Government in fulfilling the aspirations of solidarity and equality contained in the 1916 Proclamation.

He said the foundation of the State was essentially based on the ideals of liberty, equality and justice for all citizens, which he believes have not been delivered in recent times.

“The first Dáil went on to interpret that for its time and we would, therefore, interpret it in our time to mean universal healthcare, the right to a house, the right to a job, the right to be treated decently, to have access to education and rights to civil liberties and follow persuasions.

“On some of those issues in modern Ireland, I think we’re in a good place, but in terms of social and economic rights, we are in a very, very poor place.

“It’s just a downright disgrace that lip service is paid to these ideals. When you look at Dublin city there are still people living in poverty who never saw the celtic tiger.”

Mr Adams was speaking at the Mansion House in Dublin yesterday at the launch of Sinn Féin’s plans to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the first Dáil.

The party has organised a series of events, on January 21st, which commences with a photographic exhibition in the Mansion House, a historical walking tour of the surrounding streets and the launch of a commemorative publication issued by the Sinn Féin Oireachtas members.

That evening Sinn Féin will host a talk on the events of the first Dáil, there will be presentation to Siptu president Jack O’Connor marking the centenary of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU), and a keynote address by Mr Adams.