Blair-Ahern 'final settlement' not facing vital issue

international | miscellaneous | press release Friday October 13, 2006 19:16 by Seán Ó Murchú - Republican Sinn Féin - Cork

Statement by Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President, Republican Sinn Féin

The "formula to restore Stormont" and "the basis for an agreement" which are being sought at St Andrews, Scotland today (October 13) will not be a final settlement between Ireland and England because it does not address the historic Irish Question, ie the issue of the presence of the British government in Ireland.

Blair-Ahern 'final settlement' not facing vital issue

Statement by Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President, Republican Sinn Féin

The "formula to restore Stormont" and "the basis for an agreement" which are being sought at St Andrews, Scotland today (October 13) will not be a final settlement between Ireland and England because it does not address the historic Irish Question, ie the issue of the presence of the British government in Ireland.

If control of "policing" is to be ceded to Stormont it will merely cover ordinary offences and traffic, etc. The British government will retain control of security through the MI5, for which a huge headquarters is at present being built in the greater Belfast area.

As Republican Sinn Féin has reiterated since 1986, the Provos are being dragged into the British net gradually. Their total immersion into the English system in Ireland is now almost complete and they may soon return to Stormont to administer British rule here.

The result of today's talks may well be Mr Blair's and Mr Ahern's "final settlement" but Irish history teaches us that there will be no permanent peace here short of total British government disengagement from this country.

ENDS