Members Notice

A Chara,

The annual SDLP Youth Dublin Trip takes place on Wednesday Thursday 19th February 2009.

This year will include a visit to Áras an Uachtaráin, a chance to meet with the Fine Gael leadership, a tour of Leinster House, and the usual dinner + night out. Other events are still to be announced!

Transport will be provided from Belfast and Newry, leaving early on Wednesday Thursday and returning on Thursday Friday morning.

We need numbers as early as possible, so if you are aged 16-30 and would like to go, please contact us ASAP.

SDLP Youth

SDLP Youth have congratulated the Tyrone Senior team on winning All Ireland victory on Sunday and have also paid tribute to the Minor Team.

Chairman Peter Armstrong said, “Congratulations to the Tyrone Seniors on their historic win against Kerry. It’s magnificant to see Sam Maguire return north to Tyrone for the 3rd time in 6 years. It’s an absolutely fantastic achievement and the tremendous performance demonstrates the level of professionalism and talent coming from the Tyrone side.”

“I also want to wish to pay tribute to the performance of the Minor Team and wish them the best of luck in their re-play scheduled next weekend (27th September). “

REMINDER: Impending Event on Monday 22nd September

SDLP in West Belfast have organised a public forum discussion addressing the issue of All-Ireland Politics, the changing face of politics in the North, the impact of the credit crunch and if the executive is measuring up to the needs of the community.

The debate will also consider the SDLP and potential realignment: what this will mean for unionists, what effects it will have on politics in the north. But most of all, it is a chance for you to tell the SDLP and other politicians what you are thinking.

The Panel will be:

* Alex Attwood SDLP

* Basil McCrea UUP

* Edwin Poots DUP

The evening will be a short introduction to the issues from all panellists followed by a question and answer session.

It will take place on 22nd September in Forthspring Community Centre, Springfield Road, West Belfast at 7pm.

All members of the public, party and press welcome.

For more information contact, Matthew McDermott 028 9080 7808/9

SDLP in West Belfast have organised a public forum discussion addressing the issue of All-Ireland Politics, the changing face of politics in the North, the impact of the credit crunch and if the executive is measuring up to the needs of the community.

The debate will also consider the SDLP and potential realignment: what this will mean for unionists, what effects it will have on politics in the north. But most of all, it is a chance for you to tell the SDLP and other politicians what you are thinking.

The Panel will be:

* Alex Attwood SDLP

* Basil McCrea UUP

* Edwin Poots DUP

The evening will be a short introduction to the issues from all panellists followed by a question and answer session.

It will take place on 22nd September in Forthspring Community Centre, Springfield Road, West Belfast at 7pm.

All members of the public, party and press welcome.

For more information contact, Matthew McDermott 028 9080 7808/9

SDLP Youth members are invited to…

THE RE-ALIGNMENT OF POLITICS IN IRELAND

Thursday 24 April 2008

The SDLP’s Newry Branch invites you to a debate on ‘The Re-Alignment of Politics in Ireland’.

In the Mourne Country Hotel, Belfast Rd. Newry

At 7.30 sharp

On Thursday 24th April 2008

For further details contact Peter McEvoy: mcevoysdlp AT gmail DOT com

SDLP Youth are mounting a demonstration at the Dáil calling for northerners to be allowed to vote in Irish Presidential elections.

The demonstration will take place at the gates of the Dáil at 1:45pm today (Wednesday 30th January 2008).

Speaking ahead of the demonstration SDLP Youth Chairperson Gary McKeown said: “People living in the north have the right to identify themselves as Irish, so it is only fair that they should be allowed to vote for their head of state. This is in-keeping with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and strengthens democracy. We believe that anyone who is eligible to vote in the north should be allowed to cast a ballot in the race for Áras an Uachtaráin.”

All Press and Photographers are welcome to attend.

ENDS

30-01-08

SDLP Youth activists have mounted a demonstration at the Dáil calling for northerners to be allowed to vote in Irish Presidential elections.

Speaking at the event, SDLP Youth Chairperson Gary McKeown said, “People living in the north have the right to identify themselves as Irish, so it is only fair that they should be allowed to vote for their head of state. This is in-keeping with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and strengthens democracy. We believe that anyone who is eligible to vote in the north should be allowed to cast a ballot in the race for Áras an Uachtaráin.

“This should not be seen as an attempt to undermine the right of unionists on this island to identify themselves as British. It is simply aimed at providing people in the North of Ireland with the democratic right to vote for the President of Ireland alongside their counterparts in the Republic. Indeed, it is ironic that our current President is from the north- we have a ridiculous situation at present whereby someone from the north can stand for President, yet people living in that part of the island can’t actually vote in the election.”

The Newry Representative continued, “The SDLP has the strongest track record of developing cross-border links and working with our partners in the Republic to build a better future for everyone on this island. This SDLP Youth campaign promotes an all-island normalisation agenda which respects everyone’s rights and strengthens democratic participation on an all-Ireland basis. By working with other parties, we believe that a resolution to this issue can be found more quickly.”

Magherafelt SDLP Youth Member John O’Doherty concluded adding, “We had invited representatives from all the main parties elected in the south to join us at this demonstration. It was disappointing that we were told by most of them that their respective parties have no policy on this matter. I would urge all parties to think in an All Ireland context on such issues and to join with us in the fight to secure voting rights for people living in the northern counties.”

Photos available at: http://www.sdlpyouth.com/gallery/v/campaigns/voteforpresident/

Radio interview : BBC Radio Foyle - Gary McKeown

SDLP Youth have called on the Irish government to encourage Irish television and radio stations to broadcast on the digital free-to-view platform in Northern Ireland.

SDLP Youth Vice-Chair Peter Armstrong said: “The majority of households in Northern Ireland now receive digital free-to-view television and radio, yet none of the southern broadcasters has applied to broadcast on the platform.

“SDLP Youth calls on the Minister for Communication Eamon Ryan TD to use his departments influence to encourage broadcasting companies to join the digital platform. The government has a duty to extend the scope of availability of Irish broadcasting in Northern Ireland.”

“Residents who want to watch RTE currently have two options. They can fork out on cable TV services or have a special analogue aerial with signal-booster installed. These options are both expensive and inconvenient when people in the north have already invested in digital receivers for most television sets. The digital TV switchover in Northern Ireland is well underway and the old analogue TV services are to be switched off.

“There is nothing to prevent RTE, TV3, TG4, and other channels having broadcasting space on the Freeview system in Northern Ireland. There are three myths about broadcasting on Freeview which I can gladly dispel. Firstly, there would be no requirement for them to broadcast in other parts of the UK.

“Secondly, although other broadcasters are shareholders in Freeview, they would not block Irish broadcasters applying. Hundreds of independent companies have applied, including Scottish Gaelic and Welsh broadcasters, whose programming schedules remain completely independent.

“Thirdly, RTE claims that it cannot broadcast directly in the north due to broadcast licensing rights. This is not true, as they make special dispensations for broadcasting on Virgin Media, which they could also apply to free-to-view digital.

“There is no excuse why RTE or other southern broadcasters could not operate on digital free-to-view, and open up their channels to a completely new audience.”

“SDLP Youth members will be attending a debate entitled “The Role of the Republic in the North’s Affairs” hosted by Meath West Ógra Fianna Fáil. Margaret Ritchie MLA for South Down will be on the panel along with other distinguished politicians.

* Margaret Ritchie MLA
* Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern TD
* Senator Martin Mansergh
* David Ford MLA
Jim Wells MLA has also been invited to attend.

“SDLP Youth are looking forward to taking part in what will hopefully materialise as a productive and challenging debate looking at ways to foster better relations in Ireland and coming up with fresh initatives.

“The debate takes place at the Newgrange Hotel, Navan on Thursday 22nd June at 8pm.”

An SDLP Youth delegation traveled to Dublin at the weekend to attend the Easter Rising commemorations. The group from South and West Belfast used the weekend to meet with other political party youth wings and engaged in extensive informal debate.

We have extended an invitation to the north to all the youth groups to continue the debate in a more formal manner on the process of reconciliation.

Before the parade we met with Ogra Fianna Fail members in Dublin. We got an excellent view of the procession from opposite the GPO.

It’s an important part of any nation to be able to celebrate its birth. The parade was a fitting occasion. The one minute silence for all the participants of Easter 1916 adhered to by the 100 000 strong crowd - including members who fought for the British Army AGAINST the rebels and the fallen soldiers at the Battle of the Somme - shows that Ireland is a nation moving towards reconciliation with all the differing faiths and traditions that reside on the island.

Matthew McDermott and I (Peter Armstrong) attended a 1916 Commemorative Banquet at Dublin Castle. We met with An Taoiseach, An Uachtaráin na hÉireann, senior ministers and politicians.

We engaged in cordial conversation with Enda Kenny TD, Leader of Fine Gael, and Labour Deputy Leader Liz McManus TD.

We strive to work closely with the southern democratic parties, working together on cross-border issues and in dealing with northern issues. We were delighted at the great show of support and co-operation coming from all the parties.

We had political discussion with members of the Young Progressive Democrats, and in the evening we met with Labour Youth representatives in Dún Laoghaire.

Our view of the whole day is that the parade was very impressive and extremely inclusive; it had an aspect of reconciliation and centred on the Proclamation of Independence – which in our opinion stands for a united Ireland with inclusivity and social justice for all.

The whole day was excellent. The flute band music and the Air Corps fly-past made the parade more enjoyable.

The Proclamation talks about “religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all…citizens”. Our hopes for the future of our country 90 years on seem to be the same as the objectives put forward in 1916. We can achieve a lasting peace, free from sectarianism and religious bigotry, where every resident of this island has these guarantees.

Our thanks to Donal O’Liathain, Chair of Labour Youth, for overseeing the visit and providing excellent hospitality.

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See the photograph gallery:
http://www.sdlpyouth.com/gallery/v/1916/