Easter is a special time for Republicans. In 1916 at this time James Connolly and the Citizen Army merged with the Irish Volunteers and marched against what was then the most powerful Imperialist power in the World- the British Empire. Although they failed initially the example they set lit a revolutionary fire that swept the island and forced Britain to make concessions that gave a small partial victory to the Irish people.

Many republicans have fallen in the struggle to remove the last vestiges of the British Empire from this island. We pay respect to and honour the republican dead- no matter what organisation they belonged to. While today we in the Republican Socialist movement remember in particular our own martyred dead and our lost comrades we do not forget or ignore those other Republicans who sacrificed their lives that this country could be free.

We salute the work done by both the IRSP and by Teach Na Failteıs Republican Socialist Memorial Committee in erecting both monuments and plaques to commemorate our fallen. We send greetings to all our comrades,friends supporters and to all anti-imperialist and socialist prisoners throughout the world. We send particular greetings to the INLA prisoners in Portlaoise, Castlrea and Maghaberry.

Today we live in a world very different from that of 1916. Britain is no longer the worldıs leading Empire. It is now a junior apprentice to Corporate America. The USA is now the Imperialist bully of the world prepared to do what ever it takes to dominate the worldıs fuel resources. No country is now safe from the ravages of the Imperialists. If we say that Britain has no right to be in Ireland then we must, if we are to be consistent anti-imperialists, say that neither Britain nor the USA has a right to be in Iraq or anywhere else for that matter.

We believe that the whole anti-imperialist movement in Ireland and we include all sections of the Republican tradition in that movement was shamed AND embarrassed by the meeting between leaders of Sinn Fein and Blair and Bush while they were still bombing and murdering civilians in Iraq.

We are not so blind that we cannot see that in politics compromise is sometimes necessary and that hard choices have to be made. But a line has to drawn sometimes. Meeting the murdering warmongers Blair and Bush was beyond the Pale. It should never have happened. Neither should the craven supine Irish Government of Bertie Ahearn have allowed USA warplanes to refuel at Shannon.

The much-vaunted Irish neutrality is a figment of the imagination. Ireland is no longer neutral. It is part of Pax Americana. We are now once more a subservient part of an Empire. Was it is for this that the men and women of 1916 faced the guns of the British Empire??

But when we look at the Government in the 26 counties we should not be surprised. It is a coalition of the rich, a coalition of the right, a coalition of the smug and satisfied. There is Fianna Fail, (the builders Party), and the Progressive Democrats, (the private enterprise party). While Ahearn bows the knee to his new master Bush, Mary Harney leader of the Progressive Democrats prefers Boston to Berlin. In other words she wants Ireland to be the 53rd state of the Union and ignore and belittle our proud European traditions. They have governed over a decline in public services while corruption has risen. Poverty, illiteracy, crime, violence, drug abuse all have risen during the watch of the Fianna Fail /PDs coalition. It is time the Irish people copped on and booted them from office.

The coalition of forces that met in Hillsborough on a Monday and Tuesday compromised what is called the Irish peace process and allowed men of war to pose as men of peace.

We have no love for the compromises made at Stormont that saw the introduction of the Good Friday Agreement. We have no love for the restoration of Stormont nor for the embedding of the new institutions of a partitioned parliament. We have no love for the new uniforms of the RUC. We have no love for the huge increase in sectarianism that is as a direct result of the GFA.

No comrades and friends we have no love for quote "moving the process forward".

The Stevens report or rather the Stevens sham is an insult to the people of Ireland and will be seen for what it really is,"another cover up to protect the highest echelons of the British government who implemented a policy of murdering Republican and nationalist activists".This policy was not introduced by rogue FRU or Special Branch personnelbut by the highest levels of the British government and goes back to the the early 1970s. Stevens concluded that collusion began in the mid 80s and only lasted several years, who here believes that rubbish.Only a cursory glance over State murders tells us a very different story, the activities of the Militatary Reconasance Force of the early seventies, the bombings of Dublin and Monaghan, the murders of Ronnie Bunting, Noel Little and Miriam Daly, the attempted murder of Bernadette mcAliskey and her husband, the RUC shoot to kill policy of the early 80s all stems from the heart of the British Government. The Stevens Sham may expose a few monkeys but will,as usual, cover up for the organ grinders.Nothing but a full and public enquiry into all murders instigated by the State since the beginning of the conflict will satisfy us. Hugh Orde's assertion that the police force of that period is a very different one from today adds further insult to injury and is not compatible with what we witness from this still corrupt force. The PSNI like their predecessors the RUC remain the scum of the earth.

The Stormont assembly established as part of the peace process, represents not an attempt to solve the problems facing working class people of all backgrounds, but power sharing between representatives of the main sectarian parties. Stormont cannot seriously address the problems of the working class, not the day-to-day vital problems of health, housing and education, or the wider questions of the border and the national question.

The IRSP have consistently explained from the beginning of the "peace process", that the Good Friday Agreement, and the institutions of devolution associated with it, could never begin to solve the problems facing the working class no matter what their background. It promised peace but was unable to deliver. It was a lie. There has been no real peace. Sectarian attacks, beatings and killings have continued. The divide between Catholics and Protestants has never been wider.

This gap was created and nurtured by British Imperialism in order to divide and rule, to protect their system in Ireland from the threat of united working class action. It is an unnatural growth. In carving Ireland through partition British imperialism unleashed a carnival of reaction just as James Connolly had predicted.

Those who created this mess are utterly incapable of solving it. Instead of peace what they have built are lots of "peace-lines" brick walls, iron fences and barbed wire to divide communities still further. The British and Irish governments and the sectarian parties all represent the past, they have nothing progressive to say about the future.

Temporary agreements between sectarian politicians to share ministerial responsibilities at Stormont cannot begin to solve the underlying cause of this crisis. In reality whilst remaining within the straitjacket of the capitalist system, sectarian politicians and government officials from Ireland and Britain have been trying to create a better environment for big business to make money in, a better environment in which to exploit Catholic and Protestant workers alike. The Assembly cannot build houses, hospitals and schools, create jobs or eradicate poverty and low pay. These social conditions, which are an inevitable fact of life in capitalist society, serve to fuel sectarian division, fear and hate.

Capitalism can no more offer decent housing or healthcare to the people of Ireland than it can in Britain or anywhere else. None of these problems can be resolved on the basis of capitalism.

Stormont never had the potential within it to solve anything fundamental. New elections and a new period of power sharing at Stormont will inevitably raise these illusions once more.

How is a genuine and lasting peace to be achieved? The only way to get peace is by dealing with the real problems facing the people in their everyday lives. This is the only way to tackle the social roots of sectarianism. There was nothing in the Good Friday Agreement that could achieve that, in fact there was nothing progressive in it at all, and the IRSP did not support it, although it got a majority in the referendum. We were in a minority, but we were right.

For most ordinary workers however the burning questions have not been about decommissioning or policing boards but the continuation of sectarian violence, the state of housing, the war in Iraq and the continued destruction of jobs.

If the truth be told the GFA has cheapened the language of politics, lies become truth, truth lies, defeat is victory and words no longer hold any real meaning. History is been re-written before our very eyes and people particularly in republican working class areas but generally in all working class areas are disgusted with the whole process. There is a widespread disillusionment and cynicism amongst the population of the isle of Ireland as a whole.

But it appears we are now at what is called the end game.The War is over syndrome gathers apace.

Someone however forgot to tell the Erps. Neither the INLA/ IRSP have been involved in any of the political talks or dialogue that have taken place to end the conflict.

The INLA were not consulted or included in any talks about conflict resolution, decommissioning or the ending of all armed groups. The IRSP were never asked their opinions about any of these issues.

There seems to be some assumption that this movement will accept whatever political settlement is reached regardless. Nothing could be further from the truth. Without dialogue, without inclusion, without respect this movement will agree to nothing.

Neither the INLA nor the IRSP can ever sign up to any deal that they have never been consulted about. And comrades at the end of the day our goal still remains the establishment of the Irish Socialist Republic.

But to chart the way forward for that goal it is necessary, friends and Comrades, to recognise that the time is long past for this movement to be agin things. It is time to begin to spell out what we stand for and to put forward progressive and modern policies that strike a cord with the mass of the people. It is time for this movement to embed itself in the ranks of the militant fighters of the Irish working class. It is time to radicalise not merely ourselves but our class. To do that a heavy responsibility rests on all who subscribe to a belief in Socialism.

I want now to particularly address all the volunteers of the Irish National Liberation Army

Over the past few months a debate has raged within the ranks of this movement around the question of "Is the struggle for a republic still on the agenda"? Accordingly the leadership of the whole movement have agreed to open a period of debate within the Republican Socialist tradition. We call on all volunteers in particular to consider carefully and in a serious and political manner the direction that the INLA should take, what role they themselves can play and how best to contribute to the liberation of the Irish working class.

Furthermore we would ask each and every volunteer to ask themselves what they have done to assist and help the communities they live in? We want anyone associated with this movement to be above reproach, to be a militant fighter for and with the working class.

The fact that such a debate should take place at all is a reflection of the growing disillusionment and anger within the broad republican tradition for the current political processes and stalemates.

However we do not believe that we should allow such anger to divert us from the correct strategy and tactics in the coming period. Whatever other republicans do, those loyal to the Republican Socialist tradition, should respect other republicans and recognise that the decisions they make are theirs alone. In the meantime we call on those same volunteers to remain as disciplined, as focused and as ready to face what ever the future holds Never again should the forces of reaction and Imperialism feel they could walk all over the working class. There is a duty on each and every comrade to identify with and participate in the everyday struggles of the people. Educate agitate and organise comrades. It was the way of James Connolly it was the way of Costello it was the way of Gino Gallagher.

Victory to the Irish Working Class

On to the Socialist Republic!

STATEMENTS ENDS