Kildare RSF congratulates Des Dalton

Approximately 100 people attended a successful function in Naas Town House, Co Kildare on Friday, 19th of February. The function was organised by the Kilcullen Cumann and the Frank Driver Cumann North Kildare to congratulate Des Dalton for his election as president of Sinn Féin at last the 105th Ard Fheis last November.

Republicans from Dublin, Wexford, Kildare, Kilkenny and as far as Austria came to congratulate Des Dalton in his new position as leader of the oldest party in Ireland.

Des Dalton from Athy, Co Kildare, is shop steward in his local town, vice-president of his local SIPTU branch and member of the Republican Movement for more than 20 years. Before being elected as president he served as vice-president for many years. He was the republican candidate at the last two local elections in Athy.

Shane O’Toole of the Frank Driver Cumann presented Des Dalton with a framed picture on behalf of Sinn Féin Kildare. He also welcomed former POW Billy Philips from Wexford who was present at the function. Billy was just released from Portlaoise jail.

He announced Ard Chomhairle member Ger Foran who gave a lively speech in which he remembered his first meeting with Des Dalton about ten years ago and stressed the importance of the fight of the Republican Movement nowadays.

Des Dalton thanked everyone for coming, especially the two Cumainn for organising the function. He sent greetings to the republican prisoners in Maghaberry and Portlaoise and once again pointed out that the Republican Movement is the only force to achieve a united Ireland and drive the British Army out of Ireland.

He also stressed the importance of supporting the striking Green Isle workers in Naas and send greetings to them.

The members of Sinn Féin in Kildare want to take the opportunity to thank all who attended, especially Ger Foran for his speech and singer Paddy Sweeney for the great performance during the function.

'British Army still in 6 Counties'

DES Dalton, the recently-elected president of Republican Sinn Féin, told the Observer newspaper on February 7 that the last piece of the devolution process “had only rearranged the furniture, but the house remains in Britain”.

“There is very little difference between this and the bureaucracy at Dublin Castle pre-1921 that administered British rule.

“I have said before that we uphold the right of the Irish people to resist British rule in any way they can, including armed resistance.

“The British army is still in the Six Counties; in fact they were actively recruiting outside Queen’s University Belfast last week. The unionist veto still exists, and the recent Tory talks with unionists show they will use their power in Westminster to continue to keep this part of Ireland under British rule. So the conditions still exist for those to resist that rule, nothing has changed that.”

Des Dalton said that comments by Provo leaders and British supremo in the Six Counties Shaun Woodward that armed Republican “dissidents” were apolitical or simply criminals was counter-productive.

“Remember the 1970s and ’80s, when Republicans were portrayed as criminals or thugs or godfathers. These were men and women who went to jail for the struggle and in the hunger strike died for their beliefs. Paining genuine Republicans today who resist British rule as criminals or thugs is making the same mistake the British made back then. Ordinary criminals don’t fire on heavily fortified and armed British army police bases.

“The Royal Irish Constabulary became the Royal Ulster Constabulary and they ultimately became the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the PSNI. But while the cap badge might change, the essential point of these forces remain the same. They are there to uphold British rule, they are integral part of the British state forces.

“It is worth remembering all the recent reports of nationalist PSNI officers being unable to live in the communities they came from. Our message to young nationalists is that your place is not there in the PSNI. The logic of the situation remains the same – if you join a force that upholds British rule then you are putting yourself in the line of fire.”

The RSF president said its activists would assist nationalist residents who wanted to stop Orange or loyalist marches to pass through their areas as a concession to the DUP.

“Republican Sinn Féin will not abandon these communities to any squalid deal reached at Stormont or Hillsborough Castle.”

Support the Green Isle workers

Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

In a statement the Kildare based President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton expressed support for the striking workers in Green Isle , Naas, Co Kildare who have announced their intention to begin a hunger strike in their almost six-month long dispute. Des Dalton is also Vice President of the Athy/Kildare Branch of SIPTU.

Shop Steward Jim Wyse will commence a hunger strike tomorrow (February 17). If the company continue to refuse to accept the Labour Court recommendations a worker will join the hunger strike on each subsequent Wednesday.

“The workers at Green Isle have fought a lengthy battle to save jobs and to uphold the basic principles of justice in the workplace. Green Isle have refused to engage with the workers or their union the TEEU or accept the recommendation of the Labour Court that the workers they dismissed be reinstated without loss of pay. Instead they have used scab labour in an attempt to break the will of the workers and their union.

“The Green Isle workers have been forced to take the grave decision to embark on a hunger strike and it is the duty of all workers to rally to their support. Green Isle products should be boycotted and the general workforce at the plant must now come out in support of their fellow workers and bring this dispute to a head. No right won by working people has been gifted from above but has only come as a result of organised struggle. A class war is being waged on the working people of Ireland and it is time to fight back.” Des Dalton said.

Carlow political status protest

Republican Sinn Féin held a very successful picket in Carlow Town supporting the right of political status for Republican prisoners. The picket took place on Saturday February 13 between 1.00pm and 2.30pm.

Those taking part in the protest picket very well received by local people and almost 1,000 leaflets were distributed.

Speaking at the event the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton, Kildare said that Republican Sinn Féin were there to highlight the fact that there were still political prisoners in Ireland and will always be so long as British occupation remains.

“Since 1917 twenty-two Irish Republican prisoners have given their lives to uphold the right to political status a status which the British Government is withholding from the Republican prisoners in Maghaberry prison in Co Antrim.

“These men along with their comrades in Portlaoise are imprisoned for the same cause and follow in the footsteps of Ashe, MacSwiney and Sands. Their struggle is for a New Ireland for all of the Irish people. An Ireland which will be worthy of the sacrifices of all who died for Irish Freedom and will live up to the ideals of the 1916 Proclamation.” Des Dalton said.

Catholics who join devolved PSNI 'in line of fire'

Clarification: Des Dalton at no point in the interview mentioned or used the word Catholic.

Police Service of Northern Ireland there to 'uphold British rule', despite devolution of control, say dissident republicans

* Henry McDonald, Ireland editor
* guardian.co.uk, Sunday 7 February 2010 00.06 GMT

Young Catholic recruits to the Police Service of Northern Ireland are "putting themselves in the line of fire," Republican Sinn Fein has warned.

Des Dalton, the recently elected president of the anti-peace-process organisation, told the Observer yesterday that the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Stormont Assembly would make no difference to groups such as the CIRA, Real IRA and Oglaigh na hEireann in their campaigns of violence.

Dalton said the devolution of policing "had only re-arranged the furniture"; the house remained in Britain.

"The Royal Irish Constabulary became the Royal Ulster Constabulary and they ultimately became the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the PSNI. But while the cap badge might change, the essential point of these forces remain the same. They are there to uphold British rule, they are integral part of the British state forces," Dalton said. "So it is worth remembering all the recent reports of Catholic PSNI officers being unable to live in the communities they came from.

"Our message to young nationalists is that your place is not there in the PSNI. The logic of the situation remains the same – if you join a force that upholds British rule then you are putting yourself in the line of fire."

Last month the Real IRA set off a booby-trap bomb underneath the car of PSNI Constable Peadar Heffron. The prominent Irish-speaking policeman who was captain of the PSNI's gaelic football team, lost a leg in the blast and suffered serious internal injuries. Constable Heffron is the cousin of Sinn Fein's national chairman, Declan Kearney.

Provos to enforce British Rule

Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

With the fervour of political converts the Provos cannot wait to administer British Police and British Justice in Ireland.

As they don the uniforms and carry the weapons of their one-time enemy, it can be truly said that the ‘poachers have become gamekeepers.’

When the new ‘Broy Harriers’ take to the streets under Provo direction history can be accurately said to be repeating itself.

As British rule reaches into the grass-roots in the Six Counties, British Imperialism in its updated mode seeks to make itself more acceptable. However history teaches us that it will once more be resisted.

Statement in German: Provisional Sinn Féin als Vollstrecker britischer Herrschaft . . .

NATO to act as the military arm of the EU

Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

Comments by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the Lisbon Treaty provides a platform for deeper ties between the EU and NATO confirms one of the main arguments against the Lisbon Treaty according to the President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton who in a statement said:

“This bears out one of the central arguments of those who called for a rejection of Lisbon. As Republican Sinn Féin argued in both referenda held in the 26 Counties the purpose of the Lisbon Treaty was to bring the EU project to its logical next step in the construction of an undemocratic and militarised superstate.

“Hillary Clinton’s comments regarding “energy security” are significant. It would appear the ground is being prepared for NATO to act as the military arm of the EU in order to fight the resource wars - forecast by the then President of the EU Commission Jacques Delors in 1992 - over what have been identified as the key resources of water, food and energy.

“The world vision set out by Hillary Clinton is one where the political and economic hegemony of the rich northern hemisphere over the poor south will be enforced by NATO.” Des Dalton said.