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Time to Extend Presidential Vote to
North and Diaspora
Last week I wrote about the threat
posed to our world by climate change. The international climate change
conference - COP 27 – which commenced in Egypt on Sunday is viewed by many as
the world’s last real opportunity to reverse this
threat. This year has been especially dangerous with a mixture of floods,
droughts, huge storms and the threat of famine in East Africa.
Thankfully however not all of the
news has been bad. The election in Brazil of former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (popularly called Lula) has
raised hopes that the huge damage being done to the Amazon rain forest and the
threat to the indigenous peoples of that region will now end. Within days of
his election it emerged that Brazil, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of
the Congo – which contain 52% of the world’s remaining rainforests – are currently discussing how
to create a strategic alliance to coordinate their conversation plans. In his first speech as President-elect Lula committed to zero
deforestation. This is a welcome development. But a
lot now hinges on the negotiations taking place over the next fortnight at
COP27.
One other distinctly Irish aspect of Lula’s election was the long line of Brazilian voters who
turned out at Croke Park to exercise their franchise in the Brazilian
Presidential election. Under the Brazilian system voting is compulsory for
citizens between the ages of 18 and 70. Those between the age of 16 and 18 and
over 70 can choose whether to vote or not. Brazilian voters who live outside
the state are expected to vote.
Consequently,
thousands of Brazilians voted for the Presidential candidate of their choice.
This is participatory democracy in action.
Meantime Irish citizens are still waiting for our right to
vote in our Presidential elections. In 2013 the Constitutional Convention established by the Irish government
overwhelmingly voted to support the extension of the right to vote in
Presidential elections to “citizen’s
resident outside the State” and to citizens resident in the North.
In 2014 Sean Crowe TD and I
introduced a Bill in the Oireachtas to amend the Constitution by
referendum to allow the voting age for Presidential elections to be lowered to
16-years-of-age and to introduce votes in Presidential elections for citizens
in the North and for the Irish diaspora. The Fine Gael/Labour coalition stalled
the legislation and it ran out of time. However the campaign to secure a
referendum to extend the franchise in Presidential elections has
continued.
Occasionally Irish government
Ministers promise to set a date for a referendum on this issue. They know it is
popular in the North and among the diaspora but one excuse after another is
used to delay setting a date. In December 2020 the Diaspora Minister Colm Brophy promised a
referendum would take place in the second half of 2021. It didn’t happen. In
April this year he said that the referendum will take place
before 2024. This would allow people to vote via postal ballots when
the next Presidential election takes place in 2025.
Will it go ahead? The prospect of
northern and diaspora voters supporting a candidate not from Fianna Fáil and
Fine Gael will undoubtedly loom large in the minds of those parties. It is
therefore important that all of us who are for greater democracy,
accountability, equality and inclusiveness on the island of Ireland, actively
campaign in support of Irish citizens in the north and in the diaspora having
the right to vote in future elections for the President of Ireland.
End the Cuban Embargo
The economic and societal impact on
the people of Cuba of the economic blockade by the USA is enormous. The
blockade, which began in 1960, prevents essential economic and medical
resources from reaching the people of that Caribbean island nation. It imposes
billions in costs on the Cuban economy each year.
Last week the United Nations General
Assembly voted almost unanimously to end the embargo against Cuba. The first
time this resolution was put to the United Nations was in 1992. Every year
since then the same resolution has been submitted and every year almost every
country represented in the Assembly has voted for an end to the embargo.
Of the 189 states represented in the Assembly this year 185 supported the
resolution. Two states opposed it – the United States and Israel. Brazil –
still at the time under the control of outgoing right-wing President Bolsonaro
- and Ukraine abstained.
Unfortunately, the general assembly
resolutions are not legally binding but the overwhelming nature of the votes
does reflect a world-wide rejection of the embargo and solidarity with the
Cuban people.
I have been fortunate to visit Cuba
several times over the years and to meet Cuban leaders. I have always been
warmly welcomed. In 2001, along with other comrades, I unveiled a memorial
to mark the twentieth anniversary of the hunger strikes in the H-Blocks
and in Armagh Women’s prison. The hunger strike memorial is in Parque
Victor Hugo - a beautiful park in central Havana - named after the author of
Les Miserables. It reflects the solidarity of the Cuban people for the
protesting POWs.
Last week the Cuban
Ambassador Mr. Bernardo Guanche attended the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis. It
is evidence of the close ties of solidarity that Irish republicans and
many Irish people share with the people of Cuba.
Sinn Féin has consistently opposed
the embargo. Its economic, cultural and human cost on the people of Cuba
has been enormous. The interests of Latin America and especially of Cuba and
the USA are best served by an end to the embargo and the creation of a new
relationship based on mutual respect and equality.
Ailbhe Smyth
A Good Day
Out.
It was good to
be able to attend the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Dublin last Saturday. The Ard
Fheis is the supreme authority in Sinn Féin. It is the open
democratic forum where policy is agreed, leaders elected and strategy and
direction discussed. Members can attend and visitors but the democratic base of
the Ard Fheis is the delegates elected and directed by local cumainn and other
party structures to speak and vote on motions which have
also been put forward by members.
During the
pandemic the Ard Fheis, which is an annual event, could not meet in person. So
Saturday was a welcome opportunity to meet with old comrades, and new ones as well.
Everyone was in good form. Our leaders set out their views in a series of key
note speechs including a stirring Presidential address by Mary Lou
to close the Ard Fheis. I was glad to meet some of the Dublin based press
correspondents. I haven’t seen any of them since I stood down as TD for
Louth so it was good see how much they missed me. They all asked me if I missed
Leinster House. Not in the least I told them truthfully. It was an honour to
represent the people of Louth and East Meath but I did my time in that
institution and it is great that Sinn Féin has so many representatives there
these days.
Declan Kearney; Tom Arnold and Ailbhe Smyth
I was also glad
to meet visiting delegations, particularly our friends from Palestine and other
beleagured parts of the world.
Timothy O Grady
was there also to launch a new edition of Curious Journey, first published
decades ago by Kenneth Griffith and Timothy and featuring interviews with IRA
veterans from the Tan and Civil War period. Availible through An Fuiseog this
book is a must read for students of Irish history. Timothy was in
fine form.
The fringe
meeting on Why The Irish Government Should Set Up A Citizens Assembly to Plan
The Future was excellent. Tom Arnold and Ailbhe Smyth, the main speakers
delivered informed, thoughtful and very pertinent remarks and Declan Kearney
moderated a lively discussion with the capacity audience. Tom
Arnold chaired the Constitutional Convention and Ailbhe
Smyth was a key player in securing marriage equality and
the Repeal of the 8th Amendment. It was great to hear their
views. So all in all a good Saturday in the capital. And we won the
Rugby game as well.
Tom Arnold
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