Thursday January 01 1970
Sinn Féin Host Conference on EU Constitution
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event notice 
Wednesday May 25, 2005 21:10
by Eoin O'Broin - Sinn Fein
eoinobroin at hotmail dot com
16 Speakers from across the EU examine content and implications of EU Constitution
Sinn Féin and our partners in the European Parliament, European United Left/Nordic Green Left, are holding a 2 day conference this weekend on the EU Constitution. The event brings together 16 speakers from across the EU including MEPs, NGOs, trade unionists and academics.
The event is free and open to the public.
Ireland & the EU Constitution
Irish Film Centre, Eustace St, Dublin
Date: 28th & 29th May
Saturday 28th
Registration: 9am
Session 1: 9.30: Whats new in the EU Constitution?
A table of academics look at the new elements of the Constitution
Steve McGiffen
Gerard McCann
Ailbhe Smyth
Session 2: 10.45: MEPs platform
Three MEPs make the case against the Constitution
Bairbre de Brun – Sinn Fein (GUE/NGL)
Esko Sepannen – Left Alliance Finland (GUE/NGL)
Bernat Joan – Left Republicans Catalonia (Greens/EFA)
Session 3: 12.30: For & Against the Constitution
A key note debate between two prominent MEPs each arguing opposing sides of the Constitution debate.
Speakers to be confirmed
Sunday 29th
Session 1: 10.45: Civil Society Against the Constitution
A platform of NGOs outline the case against the Constitution
Trade Unionists Against the Constitution (England)
Matthew McGregor: Centre for a Social Europe (England)
Roger Cole: Peace & Neutrality Alliance (Ireland)
Lilian Halls-French - European Feminist Initiative Against the Constitution
Claudio Meloni: Attac (Italy)
Sesion 2: 12.30: Another Europe is Possible
A panel of MEPs and commentators looking beyond the EU Constitution
Aengus O’Sondaigh TD Sinn Féin
Jonas Sjostedt MEP – Swedish Left Party (GUE/NGL)
Deirdre de Burca – Green Party (Ireland)
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6Did Sinn Fein invite the Socialist Party to this conference? Or are ye afriad that they will expose your pro-Euro currency policy?
Sinn Fein were really shown up in the irish times recently when Pronsias de Rossa noted that there were something like 5,000+ submissions in the process of writing the constitution coming from virtually every party,ngo and organisation across europe, notable exception being SF,seems to me all SF are doing is jumping on the anti-constitution bandwagon to look for votes and profile in the campaign.
by socialist Saturday, May 28 2005, 2:21pm
'Did Sinn Fein invite the Socialist Party to this conference? Or are ye afriad that they will expose your pro-Euro currency policy?'
What, do the SP invite SF to address every conference that they organise? I dont think so. There are many other speakers from left wing organisations other than Sinn Fein at this conference.
And I can gurantee you one thing. Far more SF activists and leaders were out on the streets throughout this country campaigning against the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice 1 and 2 Treaties than from the Socialist party. And I can guarantee you another thing. The same will be true in this referendum campaign.
The fact is that SP did invite SF to a debate on nationalism last November (I think). It was a discussion between Eoin O'Broin and Peter Hadden. The above advertised conference is a discussion and debate type conference. I'm sure they would have had to consider inviting an SP or SWP member. But they choose not to for some reason. Why did they? I think you will find that the SP and SWP were involved in campaigning against the referenda you mention. It's plain wrong to say otherwise.
You took me up wrong. I never said that that none of them campaigned against those treaties. Read my piece again. I said that you can be guaranteed that far more members of SF were out campaigning against those treaties which is a plain fact. I have no problem acknowledging those other groupings opposition to those treaties as well.
Also, I never said that the SP NEVER invited SF to ANY conference they organised. I questioned whether they invited SF to EVERY conference they organised which they plainly do not, as they are perfectly entitled to. There is a huge difference.
SF, like any other party such as the SP and SWP or anyone else, cannot invite every other single party to every conference that they organise. There were a number of speakers at this conference from other left wing groupings. You should not get hung up at the SP not being at this particular one just as SF shouldnt get hung up if the SP dont invite them to some conference. I can think of loads of SP and SWP events that there was no SF speaker at or had invites to speak. Its no big deal.
I'm not saying a socialist voice should be at every SF conference. Of course not. SF are not socialists and they disagree with socialists on Europe. Similarly the SP are not nationalists as SF are and will not invite them to their conferences.
Point is that where there is a conference which claims to be discussing the different views of the EU constitution why did SF not invite a socialist group/party/individual? I think that they are afraid of being outflanked on the left as SF support fully the Euro currency and the cuts and "reforms" needed to have a common currency under the control of Frankfurt.
The SP and SWP would be more active than SF in my opinion. SF may have more members in certain areas however, but their average activity level is lower. SF are nowhere to be seen when it comes to campaigning on local issues such as bin tax, or water tax in the North where SF actively oppose non-payment and do nothing to build cross community opposition. SF refuse to even go into protestant areas in the North. I'm sure when the EU constitution referendum is called in the UK the SP and SWP will be doing more active work in both communities.
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