| If
You Ask Me
by Danny
Morrison
Sinn Fein held its
100th birthday last year and this weekend holds its ard fheis in Dublin
against the backdrop of the 25th anniversary of the hunger strike. While
it didn't get a telegram from Queen Elizabeth it was certainly given a
backhand compliment by Fianna Fail. It announced that for the first time
in over 35 years the Irish government will this Easter be officially celebrating
the anniversary of the 1916 Rising.
Easter
Week was a battle between "our Davids and their Goliaths", said
President Mary McAleese, in a tribute the like of which has not been heard
since the 50th anniversary celebrations in 1966, two years before the
conflict broke out here.
So,
why should this be good news for Sinn Fein? Well, it's further proof of
the mainstreaming of republicanism which Sinn Fein believes is in response
to the appeal of its policies, its increasing popularity in the South
and its electoral supremacy over the SDLP.
Even
Fine Gael jumped on the bandwagon, discovered its roots, and celebrated
the centenary of Arthur Griffiths' Sinn Fein. Fine Gael has also set up
fan clubs to one of Ireland's best-known 'pacifists', Michael Collins,
a real man who would have reached for his pistol not his pen at the very
mention of an IMC report.
Another
coincidence. Just one year after Sinn Fein published its green paper on
reunification the SDLP has followed suit. The paper - Irish Unity for
Slow Learners - contains the party's ideas for all-Ireland bodies because,
it says, North South Makes Sense.
So the
trend setters of Sinn Fein feel that they are entitled to be in a buoyant
mood this weekend and will benefit from IRA decommissioning and the announcement
of the end of the armed struggle. It has to prepare for a major election
in the South from which it could well emerge as holding the balance of
power or as part of a coalition - though the party is divided on that
issue.
Sinn
Fein continues to call for the Northern Assembly to be reconvened but
if the DUP don't want it, hey, that's okay as well.
In the absence of unionist interest there are signs that pressing economic
needs have convinced the British government to move towards a single Ireland
approach in a variety of areas.
Last
week London and Dublin announced that they intend spending 100 billion
euros in investment on an all-Ireland basis in the next ten years.
Policing
in the North will be debated but there will be no vote until the British
government finalises its legislative changes to the PSNI.
However,
there will be lots of mirth at the way the DUP looks after unionist interests.
It demands that Sinn Fein recognise the PSNI but if Sinn Fein joins the
policing board the DUP will withdraw from it, thus handing it over to
the republicans.
That's
the way to go, Ian. Enjoy the Rising.
If
You Ask Me Archive
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