SF agenda for Agreement review

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The following is Sinn Fein's agenda for the review of
the Good Friday Agreement, to begin next week.
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Stability of the institutions

* Re-endorsement of the Agreement by all participants.

* Border Poll - Sinn Fein will be seeking firm commitments on
a date for a simultaneous poll on Irish unity, north and
south.

* Suspension legislation - the political institutions must be
restored and the NI Act 2000 that gives powers of suspension
to the British government repealed.

* International Monitoring Commission - the International
Monitoring Commission is outside the terms of the Agreement.
The IMC should be abolished and the legislation, which
established it, repealed.

* Safeguards - the review must protect the safeguards built
into the review to guarantee inclusivity and the protection of
the rights and interests of all sides of the community.

* North South Ministerial Council - participation in the
North South Ministerial Council is an essential right and
responsibility of relevant Ministers in the Executive. This
cannot be subject to veto.

* Ministerial Pledge of Office - breaches of Ministerial
Office should be subject to sanction within the terms of the
Agreement.


Equality and Human Rights


* Equality - full implementation of the Equality Agenda to
create an equality based society across the island.

* Equality duty: Section 75 - to agree the basis for the
forthcoming review of the operation of section 75 and identify
other bodies that should be subject to the S75 duty.

* Single Equality Bill - enactment and implementation of the
Single Equality Bill. The review should also address the issue
of discrimination on grounds of OEnational security, and the
nationality requirement for civil service jobs.

* Human Rights - full implementation of the Human Rights Agenda
to create a human rights based society across the island.

* The Human Rights Commission - the Commission should be
reconstructed to address, particularly, the issues of
composition, independence and powers.

* Bill of Rights - a round table forum, with an international
chair, involving the political parties and civic society to
take forward the development of the Bill of Rights.

* All Ireland Charter of Rights - the development of an
all-Ireland Charter of Rights.

* Victims and Reconciliation - address the suffering of the
victims of the conflict as a necessary element of
reconciliation. An approach to victims based on parity of
esteem rather than a hierarchy of victims. Addressing
outstanding issues in relation to prisoners.

* Collusion, state and state-sponsored violence - full
disclosure on the policy of collusion including publication of
the Cory Report and establishment of effective independent
inquiries.

* Irish Language - full implementation of the commitment to
recognise and promote the use of the Irish language, including
a comprehensive Irish Language Act to formally give
recognition to the Irish language and the appointment of an
Irish Language Commissioner.

* Flags, symbols and emblems - participants to the Agreement
acknowledged that symbols and emblems should be used in a
manner, which promotes mutual respect rather than division.
This requires the repeal of the Flags (NI) Order 2000 and the
Flags regulations (NI) 2000 and the development of a Code of
Practice to govern the use of symbols and emblems.


Expansion of the All Ireland commitments


* Expansion of All Ireland areas of co-operation and
implementation bodies - the review is an opportunity to
identify additional areas for co-operation and implementation.

* Establishment of the All Ireland Inter-Parliamentary Forum.

* Establishment of the All Ireland Consultative Forum.


Demilitarisation, policing and justice


* The Issue of Arms - all parties must use their influence to
resolve the issue of arms, in the context of the
implementation of the Agreement. In addition, the
proliferation of legally held arms needs also to be addressed.

* Demilitarisation - a comprehensive programme of
demilitarisation, including the withdrawal of all British
soldiers from the north; the removal of military
installations; the removal of emergency legislation, and other
measures appropriate to and compatible with a normal peaceful
society.

* Policing - the full implementation of the Patten
recommendations along with the withdrawal from use of plastic
baton rounds; an independent complaints mechanism to
investigate instances of use of plastic baton rounds by the
British Army and additional resources for the Ombudsman to
expedite the investigation of retrospective complaints.

* Criminal Justice Review - new Criminal Justice provisions;
the overhaul of the Inquest system (post Home Office Review);
measures to address the issue of symbols and emblems on the
basis of parity of esteem; and the need to promote mutual
respect rather than division and the repeal of repressive
legislation.

* Transfer of powers on policing and justice.