A NATIONAL conversation on the future of Ireland was needed between now and the centenary of the Easter Rising, the North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said.
He told the opening night of the Sinn Féin ardfheis, which is taking place in Belfast for the first time since the party’s foundation in 1905, that there should be meetings on the issue in every county over the coming year.
The ardfheis is being held at the Waterfront Hall and armed police kept watch from a nearby building as the delegates gathered.
Mr McGuinness said the last five years had shown what could be achieved by republicans: Sinn Féin ministers were now sitting at the Executive table with the Democratic Unionist Party and, in the Oireachtas, Gerry Adams was leading a Sinn Féin team of 14 TDs and three Senators.
He said the next five years should be devoted to building a “New Republic” based on the vision of the 1916 leaders.
He said “some political leaders in Ireland have waved the white flag – they accepted the loss of sovereignty – they accepted the IMF and the ECB – not necessarily because they wanted to but because they hadn’t the vision to look for another way”.
He added that, “It is our duty to continue to reach out to unionists and it is our duty to persuade them of the merits of a new republic and of their treasured place in it.
“In the five years between now and 2016 I want to see us lead a national conversation on the future of this island. We are haemorrhaging our young people to far-flung parts of the world in search of work. A combination of greed and arrogance has left much of the Irish people demoralised. That is not the vision of 1916 and it is not my vision for Ireland approaching its centenary.
“And our national conversation needs to be truly national and indeed global. Our diaspora have a stake in our future. Let us begin the work today of structuring a proper engagement on the type of new republic we want to build – let us engage without preconditions and engage with those who have previously not had their voices heard.
“Let us have meetings in every Irish county in the next year – let us meet every group who has a stake in building a new republic. Remember the men and women of 1916 came from different backgrounds and different places. They had a vision and they had a purpose.”
Speaking to reporters earlier, Mr McGuinness said the party would decide its attitude on the presidential election next week.
“There will be a new Sinn Féin ardchomhairle elected from this ardfheis and they will have to decide what Sinn Féin’s stance on the presidency is going to be when they meet towards the end of next week. I think people should listen very keenly to Gerry Adams’s speech tomorrow night and maybe some hint will be in that speech as to what Sinn Féin intend to do.”
Asked whether he would be interested in becoming the party’s presidential candidate, he said: “I haven’t even thought about it.”
This morning’s proceedings at the ardfheis are broadcast live on RTÉ and BBC from 11am to 1pm. Mr Adams’s presidential address, which will also be broadcast, will take place at 8.30pm.
