Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Teachta Martin regularly and rightly reminded us that Fine Gael and Labour were implementing Fianna Fáil policy. How ironic is it that they have been punished by the electorate for doing so? Voters correctly rejected Labour’s way and Fine Gael’s way and the largest majority in the history of this State was squandered. They also rejected the Fianna Fáil policy which Teachta Martin rightly reminded us that Fine Gael and Labour were implementing. I take this opportunity to welcome Fianna Fáil’s conversion to the politics or at least the rhetoric of fairness that has given the party a bounce in the polls but the electorate will be unforgiving if Fianna Fáil fails to match its words with action.

Several speakers, including the Ceann Comhairle, referred to this year as being the centenary of this Republic. That is incorrect. This is not the republic proclaimed in 1916. It is not the republic of Pearse or Connolly and the spirit of the first Dáil is not embodied in this Dáil. In fact, the spirit of the 3rd Dáil, established in August 1922 for 26 counties, is what is represented here. At least the Ceann Comhairle and others who spoke on this issue should be clear about that. The republic of 1916 is still to be established and all of us, whatever our party political and individual positions, should endeavour to achieve that and to work every day for that, not just every 100 years.

In that spirit, I welcome all new Deputies here today, including the 12 new Sinn Féin Deputies and wish them and everybody else here the very best in their roles. I thank everyone who voted, stood and worked for our party and all of our families. Is mór an onóir é a bheith tofa ag an bpobal, ach go háirithe mar Theachta de chuid Shinn Féin. I also extend my best regards to those who, for a variety of reasons, whether through retirement or loss of their seats, have not returned to the 32nd Dáil and thank them for their contribution to the 31st Dáil. Thug Sinn Féin faoin dtoghchán seo le plean chun toradh a bheadh cóir a bhaint amach, i gcomhpháirtíocht le na daoine eile sa ghrúpa Right2Change. Tháinig méadú mór ar ár gcuid tacaíochta. As the party with the largest number of votes on this island, as the largest bloc within the Right2Change movement, as the third largest party in the Dáil and the main party of the working class, Sinn Féin wants to get on with the work of building with others a progressive alternative to the politics of the establishment. There is an urgent need. It is a deadly serious urgent issue for people who are denied equality that they should have equality, fairness and public services-----

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