Sinn Fein News, January 10, 2005
McGuinness:
Sinn Féin will not allow mandate to be set aside
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness say this morning that he is angry at comments
made by the Taoiseach about the IRA's alleged involvement in the bank
robbery in the North and accusations that Sinn Féin leaders knew of the plan.
Martin McGuinness said now is not the time for the governments to throw in
the towel on the talks and set to one side all that has been achieved in
recent months.
"Sinn Féin's priority for the last fifteen years has been to secure a peace
process, transform politics on the island and advance the argument for Irish
unity. We have invested huge time and resources in the peace process, as
have others, and we will not allow unsubstantiated allegations to deflect us
in our work.
"It is disappointing that people are prepared to accept the word of Hugh
Orde despite the fact he has not produced one iota of evidence to suggest
that republicans were behind this robbery. His political intervention was as
a result of intelligence reports from faceless securocrats who have a less
than honourable record in this country.
"The people on whose word these unsubstantiated allegations are being made
are the same people who for years colluded with loyalist squads in their own
interests, who forced an orange march down the Garvaghy Road, who eroded
essential parts of the Good Friday Agreement and who today are still
refusing to co-operate with inquiries such as that into the Dublin Monaghan
bombings. Maybe it is the actions and integrity of these people that should
be subjected to scrutiny.
"For almost a decade we have worked closely with Bertie Ahern, as leader of
Fianna Fáil and as Taoiseach. We have done so with honesty and in a
straightforward manner, at all times, including when things were difficult.
I reject outright accusations of double-dealing and dishonesty and stand on
our record.
"Sinn Féin is a major player in the peace process because over 340,000
people voted for us. We will not allow our mandate to be set-aside on
anyone's behalf. Now is not the time for the governments to throw in the
towel on the talks and set to one side all that has been achieved in recent
months. I am not dismissing the difficulties that this robbery has caused
because even before this incident there were difficulties created by the
DUP's refusal to share power with Sinn Fein. Instead of responding to an
agenda being set by those who oppose the peace process and who use every
opportunity to undermine it, political leaders need to examine the facts,
defend the Agreement and move on", Mr. McGuinness said.