Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth participate in Cross Party Debate

Last night (Tuesday 23rd April) Belfast Sinn Féin Republican Youth activists took part in the first cross party youth debate in the chamber of Belfast City Hall.

From the outset it was clear the apparent benches of 'Unionist Unity' (DUP/PUP/UUP) were on an anti-Sinn Féin crusade as they continually spiralled into paisleyite rants of outdated rheotric. Despite these blatant displays of bigotry throughout, the strong Sinn Féin team, predominately made up of young Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth activists kept their cool.

A number of motions were proposed from the floor ranging from equality and welfare reform, to fiscal autonomy for the north and youth unemployment & emigration. 

 

Glenavy Sinn Féin representative Mary-Kate Quinn, along with comrades Seán Bateson & Dominic Sherry Adams highlighted the need for, and the benefits of, fiscal autonomy for the north, coining the term 'the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland' as the foundation of their argument.

Admist the constant jeers & heckles from the opposite benches, Saoirse O'Neill & Kathy Crawford, Belfast Republican Youth spokespersons on proposed Welfare Reform, held their nerve as they sold a clear & solid Sinn Féin line on the potentially catastrophic imposition of British government, Tory cuts.

 

As the debate went on, the ever-increasing sense of unionist elitism & paranoia became ever evident to the rest of the chamber & the public gallery as the Sinn Féin team were continually refused permission to make points of order.

Bewildered by this, Mairéad Farrell Republican Youth chairperson Eoín McShane pointed out, after some time, how this suggested a clear lack of belief & understanding in what those among the unionist benches were actually talking about & accused the 'Unionist Unity' delegation of a lack of confidence in their own position as they consistently refuted Sinn Féin attempts to intervene. He concluded by saying, "IF i am wrong, and IF this, the future of unionism in this city actually ARE confident, then what is there to fear from a vote on Irish Unity?".

 

Following further disruption, and jeers of 'hear hear' in false English accents, North Belfast activists Anthony Lowry & Mick Vernon calmly dealt with a final onslaught of failed Unionist intimidation as they calmly & professionally dealt with a number of difficult, sectarian contributions.

 

Despite the tension, the chamber witnessed much light hearted debate. At one point, Niall Ó Donnghaile, ex-Mayor of Belfast even resumed his seat in the chair as the current DUP Mayor, Gavin Robinson had to step out for a short period.

All in all, it is quite clear that the Republic is safe in the hands of this generation, and that we will deliver Irish Unity.

 

 

You can contact the Mairéad Farrell Youth Committee on Facebook or Twitter.