This agenda for the special Sinn Fein Ard Fheis on June 12-13 1965 was the output of the 'conference of republicans' announced at the 1964 Ard Fheis in the Bricklayers Hall in the course of the Army Council Statement. It is to be seen as essentially an Army document, aimed at changing the politics of the more traditional Sinn Fein. The various clauses were put to the Ard Comhairle, which in some cases recommended them for adoption.

[1] (a)That the essential work of the republican movement at present is the development of political and agitational activities and the infiltration and direction of other organisations.

(b) That educational and training programmes in both organisations should be directed to this end. That one educational centre for all recruits to the Republican Movement be set up, details of organisation to be worked out by the executives of both branches.

(c) That closer integration of the executives of both organisations is essential. That this should be achieved by having the same people on both executives.

(d) That the structure and constitution of each organisation should be streamlined to provide for close co-operation between both at local level.

This was accepted by the Ard Comhairle, but at the Special Ard Fheis only (b) and (d) were carried; (c) was lost, and (a) was amended as follows:

"That the essential work of the Republican Movement at present is the development of political and agitational activities and the giving of leadership, internally and externally, and the involvement of other organisations in struggles for limited objectives as a preparation for an ultimate confrontation with the British Government on the national issue. This amendment does not accept Recommendation No. 9 as a logical extension of these recommendations.

[2] (a) That court charges resulting from political and agitational activities, involving members of the Republican Movement and others, should be defended in courts but that de jure recognition be not acceded. The executive may, in a specific case, decide otherwise.

(b) That in cases involving members of the Republican Movement only, arrested on activities other than agitational, that the decision to defend or.not rest with the executives of both organisations. That power to decide in each case be delegated by the executives to a committee of two or three.

(c) That a panel of legal advisers be drawn up and be given to members of the Movement in all areas, so that, when any member of the Movement is arrested, that he should immediately ask to see the specified solicitors.

This was accepted by the Ard Comhairle, but only (c) got past the Special Ard Fheis

[3] That republicans should continue to refuse to account for movements. That any person charged with such refusal under the "Offences against the State Act" should defend the case in courts while still refusing to accede de jure.recognition to the court. That a case should be taken through all legal procedure here and eventually taken to the European Court of Human nights. That the defence should rest on the basis that the compulsion of a person under penalty to account for his movements without a specific charge being made against him, constitutes a violation of a fundamental human right. That the executive may, in a special case, direct a person to account for his movements. That a selected citizen, not a member of the Republican Movement, nor a person of any substance, bring before the courts the contention that the "Offences Against the State Act" is repugnant to the Constitution and an infringement of the convention of Human Rights subscribed to by the 26 County State.

This was accepted by the Ard Comhairle, and supported by the Special Ard Fheis.

[4] That in all cases where parades are organised the local police be notified unless the organisers are otherwise instructed by their executive authority.

That a similar procedure should be adopted in the case of public meetings which are likely to cause obstruction to traffic.

That, should parades be banned or rerouted, meetings banned or re-positioned, the local organisers should contact their executive should time permit, otherwise that they should use their initiative in deciding what action to take.

This was accepted by the Ard Comhairle but rejected by the Special Ard Fheis.

[5] That no police permits be sought in the names of Sinn Fein, IRA, Republican Movement, Cumann na mBan, or Na Fianna Eireann to hold raffles or ballots. That an Cumann Cabhrach, the National Graves Association and the National Commemoration Committee may apply for police permits. That any other cases should be referred to the executives for decision.

This was accepted by the Ard Comhairle but rejected by the Special Ard Fheis.

[6] That at Public Meetings in the 6 Counties at which it is intended to take up a collection the police be notified 48 hours beforehand, that local initiative be used should permission for such a collection be refused. That at public meetings in the 26 Counties the present procedure be continued.

That An Cumann Cabhrach be permitted to apply for flag day permits should they consider it worth while.

That in the 6 Counties where police permission must be sought for door-to-door collections, such permission should be applied for.

That a permit be sought to take up Sinn Fein National Collection. That no permit be sought to sell Easter Lilies.

This was accepted by Ard Comhairle but rejected by the Special Ard Fheis.

[7] (a) Concerning arrests for collections (See recommendation 2) (b) (Read recommendation 2(a) ). Where a decision is made not to contest a case, and a fine is imposed, it will automatically follow that fine will not be paid.

That where a case is defended and a fine imposed, decision as to what action to take should rest with executive.

(c) That where a case is not defended, no bond or 'rule of bail' should be entered into. That where a case is defended and person charged is asked to enter into a bond "to be of good behaviour" such a bond be entered into provided that a clear statement be made that the bond does not bind the person to abandon republican activities.

(At this point it was decided by the members of the conference that they had insufficient legal knowledge as to "Bond" or "Rule of Bail" to discuss the matter further. It was decided to seek legal advice).

That when a clear decision be made, it not be disclosed until a case arises.

Items (a) and (b) were accepted by the Ard Comhairle. Regarding point (c) the Ard Comhairle decided that no "Bond" or ','Rule of Bail' should be entered into unless otherwise decided by the executive.

NB The following point (d) of this recommendation was not considered by the Ard Comhairle at its meeting of 1/5/65 but was to be considered at a meeting on 27/5/65.

(d) Where alternative of bail or remand in custody is given, bail should be accepted. If it is not offered it should be applied for unless executives decide otherwise.

These complicated provisions were in the end totally rejected by the Special Ard Fheis.

[8] (a) That Sinn Fein be recommended to register as a political party.

(b) That the whole question of attitude to be adopted by Republicans in prison be reconsidered with a view to revision of same.

(c) That there be no obstacle placed in the way of Republicans writing to government departments in the 6 Counties, 26 Counties or in Britain seeking information or requesting that something be done, etc.

(d) That Republicans acting as members of local organisations and not simply as Republicans be permitted and encouraged to take part in delegations to Ministers of any of the three governments administrating in Ireland.

(e) That in pursuit of objectives related to she national good and in the interest of Republican policy, co-operation should be sought from all organisations whether political or otherwise. That the question of an approach to an individual parliamentary representative be decided by executives of either organisation.

All were accepted by the Ard Comhairle except section (a) but it was agreed to examine the implications of this section. At the Ard Fheis sections (a) and (e) were rejected but the other three were carried.

[9] That the executives of both organisations give consideration to action within existing parliament(s) on a guerrilla basis as a logical extension of the activities outlined in Recommendation 1 re agitation.

This was rejected by the Ard Comhairle and also by the Ard Fheis.

[10] That a broad conference on a National question be convened, to be confined to the question of the foreign take-over of land, industry and trades and the general issue of foreign influence in Ireland.

Accepted by Ard Comhairle and by the Special Ard Fheis.

Some navigational notes:

Copyright Dr Roy Johnston 1999