Sinn Fein councillor to give lecture in Palma tonight

Sinn Fein's Belfast City councillor Eoin O'Broin, a leading light in the political party, will this evening be giving a lecture at the Balearic University as part of the UIB's cycle of conferences on “Globalisation, social movement and conflict. Historic Perspectives of the 20th century.” O'Broin will be giving his lecture on “Ireland, home rule and civil rights.” O'Broin believes that last year's elections were much more than about the peace process, but also an opportunity for Irish republicans to put forward their broad ranging and radical vision of a new Ireland. That vision, which O'Broin is expected to talk about tonight, is to create an independent and democratic socialist Irish republic which treats all of its citizens equally in terms of opportunity and outcome. As far as Sin Fein is concerned, that vision is part of an Ireland-wide project and he will explain why Sinn Fein is the only all Ireland political party. Eoin O'Broin was elected councillor to the Belfast City Hall, representing the Old Park ward of North Belfast last year and said after the elections that Sinn Fein came out of the elections stronger then ever before. The movement for greater autonomous rule in the Balearics will be eager to hear O'Broin explain Sinn Fein's vision for an Irish republic. Sinn Fein's broader republican vision of a new Ireland, which O'Broin says that Sinn Fein intends to use its new found political strength, is based on principles of equality, justice and solidarity. “We want to see an Ireland of peace with itself and it neighbours, where violence, discrimination, deprivation and exclusion are things of the past. We realise that these are grand goals, which will take many years to achieve. What is clear is that Sinn Fein is a growing force in Irish politics. A fact which looks set to continue into the future,” he wrote recently in the Corrymeela newspaper.