Cllr Dwyer, chairperson of Leinster Sinn Féin, was speaking outside of the British embassy in Dublin, last Thursday night, at the public rally, held to protest the decision of the British government to cancel elections to the Northern Assembly.

Cllr Dwyer said:

"The 29th May 2003 is yet another black day for democracy in Ireland.

"A day when a British prime minister can cancel elections in Ireland is a further indication, if indeed one were needed, that Britain still regards the right of Irish people, of all traditions, to determine their own faith, as being dependent on the whim of any given British ruler.

"Republicans can never accept this position. Our position remains unchanged; we wish to see an end to British involvement in the affairs of our country. We will continue, to work to bring about the complete disengagement of Britain from Ireland.

"Blair’s press in Ireland will tell us that the British are great defenders of democracy. They will tell us that in far flung lands, they have overthrown ruthless dictators; That they have given the peoples of Afghanistan and Iraq the seeds of democracy.

"Yet they see no contradiction in that same British government, yet again blatantly trampling, on the democratic wishes of the vast majority of the people of this Island.

"The silence from the leadership of Fianna Fail comes as no surprise to us. The anticipated outcome of elections in the six counties, with Sinn Féin continuing to put clear blue water between ourselves and the SDLP was not the outcome that Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen were comfortable with.

"But what does come as a bolt from the blue, is the current stated position of the Irish government; in describing themselves as “honest brokers”. It is the duty of every Irish government to fully represent all of its own citizens, North and South, not as an honest broker, but as an active and equal partner in the process of building upon the Good Friday agreement.

"That this government has acquiesced to the British government once again is an outrage. The anger felt by the Republican base at this betrayal by the government must be used to inject a new sense of determination into our aim to create an Ireland of equals.

"I would call on all genuine republicans in Fianna Fáil to reject that parties submissive stance and to reject the notion of paying lip service to the ideals of Irish republicanism. I would urge them to join with us in our struggle to bring lasting peace and justice to this island.

"We will continue to use all our energy to build an Ireland, governed by a democratically elected government. A government elected by all of the people of this island. A government, unafraid to represent all of its citizens. A government committed to treating all of its citizens equally.

"These are the aims of our party and no one can stop the progress of a people in their march to achieve the dreams of Connolly and Pearse."