Abstract
With the republican political veto effectively in place in Northern Ireland from 2001, the attention of Sinn Féin switched increasingly south of the border. This is not to suggest that Northern Ireland was abandoned. On the contrary, the party sought to consolidate its lead over the SDLP — something it did with considerable success, as the results of the 2003 Assembly and 2004 European elections showed.2 Moreover, as shall be demonstrated, the Northern Irish peace process continued to be a crucial vehicle for Sinn Féin, by which the party could advance its agenda and present itself in a positive light in the Republic of Ireland. Nevertheless, the effort to achieve significant political expansion in the south was now given new urgency by republicans. Indeed, in the words of Jim Gibney, it became ‘the number one priority’ for the party in this period.3
‘We’re keen to build now in the south… It’s probably our number one priority at this point.’
Jim Gibney1
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Notes
In the 2004 European election in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin’s Bairbre de Brun won 26 per cent of the vote, compared to 16 per cent won by the SDLP’s Martin Morgan. Figure taken from P. Hainsworth and G. McCann, ‘Change at last: The 2004 European Election in Northern Ireland’, Irish Political Studies, 19(2) (Winter 2004), p. 105.
During this period, for example, Sinn Féin was a vocal defender of the rights of travellers, women, homosexuals and immigrants. See, for instance, ‘New antiTraveller law passed’, AP/RN, 28 March 2002; Sinn Féin, Women in an Ireland of Equals (2002), available at <http://www.sinnFéin.ie/policies/document/153>, last accessed 7 November 2006;
Sinn Féin, Moving On: A Policy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Equality (1996), available at <http://www.sinnFéin.ie/pdf/Policies_ LGB.pdf>, last accessed 7 November 2006; ‘Sinn Féin signs anti-racism pledge’, AP/RN, 14 March 2002; ‘Sinn Féin launches Charter on Racism’, AP/RN, 17 July 2003.
Adams, cited in Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams Presidential Address to Sinn Féin Ard Fheis 2000 (2000), available at <http://www.sinnfein.ie/pdf/Speech_ArdFheis00.pdf>, last accessed 30 November 2006.
M. Gallagher, ‘Stability and Turmoil: Analysis of the results’, in M. Gallagher, M. Marsh and P. Mitchell (eds), How Ireland Voted 2002 (Basingstoke, 2003), pp. 92, 100–2.
M. Laver and M. Marsh, ‘Parties and voters’, in J. Coakley and M. Gallagher (eds), Politics in the Republic of Ireland, 3rd edn (London, 1999), p. 169.
Sinn Féin, Building a Just Economy (2002), available at <http://www.sinnFéin.ie/policies/document/146>;
Sinn Féin, No Right Turn (2003), available at http://www.sinnFéin.ie/policies/document/174;
Sinn Féin, Eliminating Poverty — A 21st Century Goal (2004), available at <http://www.sinnFéin.ie/pdf/SFArd Fheis04Poverty.pdf>. All last accessed 10 November 2006.
Sinn Féin, ‘Sinn Féin, The Irish Economy and the Role of Business — Charting a Course for the Future’: Speech by Gerry Adams to the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, 20 February 1998, Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast (1998) (LLPC).
Sinn Féin, Educate that you may be free (2003), available at <http://www.sinnFéin.ie/policies/document/128>;
Sinn Féin, Health for all (2001), available at <http://www.sinnFéin.ie/pdf/Policies_Health.pdf>. Both last accessed 10 November 2006.
‘Creeping Privatisation Rejected’, AP/RN, 3 April 2003. The 2003 ard fheis also passed a policy document outlining the party’s opposition to PFI/PPP. See Sinn Féin, Private Finance Initiative (2003), available at <http://www.sinnFéin.ie/policies/document/151>, last accessed 10 November 2006.
Sinn Féin, Press Release: Gerry Adams on Columbia Arrests (22 August 2001) (LLPC).
S. MacCarthaigh, ‘DUP scuppers North deal’, Sunday Business Post, 19 September 2004.
H. Patterson, ‘A Conspiracy of Agreement’, Parliamentary Brief, 9(5), October 2004, p. 5.
A. Quinlivan and E. Schon-Quinlivan, ‘The 2004 European Parliament Election in the Republic of Ireland’, Irish Political Studies, 19(2) (Winter 2004), pp. 91–3. See also, ‘Toghchan Eorpach 11/06/2004’, Guthanphobail.net, available at <http://www.guthanphobail.net/eoraip-20040611.htm>, last accessed 10 November 2006.
Figures taken from A. Kavanagh, ‘The 2004 Local Elections in the Republic of Ireland’, Irish Political Studies, 19(2) (Winter 2004), pp. 71–2.
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© 2009 Martyn Frampton
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Frampton, M. (2009). Sinn Féin Centre Stage: The Search for Political Growth, 2001–4. In: The Long March. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-59471-5_6
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