Sligo set to 'welcome' Bertie and his Fianna Fail(ure) party. Sept 10-11

sligo | anti-capitalism | news report Thursday August 21, 2003 18:27 by Ruairi - North West in Jest muscailt at yahoo dot com

A call to protest, dissent and dismiss

A variety of groups and individuals are expected to mark the Fianna Fail 'think tank' session in Sligo by displaying their dismay and anger at the Government's policies towards HEALTH, EDUCATION, NEUTRALITY, SHANNON AIRPORT, FOREIGN POLICY, CORRUPTION, RACISM and SOVEREIGNTY. All invited!

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

Taoiseach due for Sligo meeting
By John Bromley

THE Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and most of his cabinet will be in Sligo for two days in September.
They will be attending the Fianna Fail parliamentary party’s annual think tank session prior to the opening of the new Dail session along with over 100 of the party’s TDs and senators.
This annual gathering is held at a different venue outside of Dublin every year and this year it is being held at the Sligo Park Hotel on Wednesday and Thursday, September 10 and 11.
It is thought that the smoking ban in pubs and restaurants due to come into force in January will feature strongly at it and it will be a chance for those in the party opposed to an outright ban to seek to have their views taken on board by the Government. It has been suggested that this session could be crucial if there is to be any changing of the Minister’s mind.
These annual meetings take the form of workshops on various topics and give the backbenchers a chance to make their views known to Ministers.
Apart from the workshops, there will be a keynote address by the Taoiseach and there will be a dinner on Wednesday night, which will be addressed by a special guest.
A spokesperson for the party told the Weekender that it gives the party a chance to reflect on the last Dail session and to look ahead to the new term.
“It is a chance for members of the parliamentary party to raise issues that are of concern to them and to the public”, she said.